As New Hampshire’s commercial building boom kicks into high gear in 2024, some of the Granite State’s leading engineering firms are using the latest cutting-edge technology to provide the best structural designs for their clients. In this week’s New Hampshire Business Review, we take a deep dive into how some of these tools will help these engineering firms deliver better projects and how they can improve their capabilities to better serve their clients. We also talk with both engineering and legal experts about how businesses can save energy costs and help the planet through NH Saves and what New Hampshire is doing to help curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Our panel:
• Kyle Roy, principal/senior structural engineer, TFMoran Inc., TFmoran.com
• Jonathan George, project engineer/structural engineering manager, H.L. Turner Group, hlturner.com;
• Patrick Terrio, project engineer, DMI Inc.
• Gregory H. Smith, director and chairman, administrative law department and environmental practice group; Adam M. Dunville, environmental and energy director and vice-chairman, administrative law department, and Steven Yannacone, an environmental and energy associate, administrative law department, McLane Middleton, mclane.com.
Kyle Roy, principal/senior structural engineer, TFMoran
Q: What emerging technologies are poised to revolutionize the structural engineering landscape, and how should businesses prepare to leverage them?
A: Structural engineers seek to provide innovative, efficient and safe structural solutions for every project. A company’s investment in efficiency will be successful if they are willing to rethink existing technologies and adopt recent technologies.
Q: What is a technology tool taking hold in the engineering sector?
A: Off-site and modular construction is established and currently one of the best ways to streamline the building process, to reduce waste and improve project timelines. New materials and fabrication technologies are challenging the industry to rethink what can be built off-site. Building projects must entertain new approaches and explore more off-site construction methods, materials and modular solutions.
Companies should invest in developing expertise in modular construction design. Building information modeling (BIM) is currently being used to create more accurate models that can be used on the fabrication floor to reduce production time and errors.
In addition to being leveraged in modular construction, BIM is a commonly used technology in the architectural, engineering and construction community. BIM is used to create digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of buildings. The digital models enhance collaboration, streamline design and facilitate better project decision-making.
The next evolution for digital models is to pair them with artificial intelligence (AI), and generative design (GD) software. Structural engineers can integrate the use of AI and algorithms to explore numerous generative design options rapidly. Companies should further invest in AI, adopt GD tools and train staff to effectively use it.
Companies that leverage these tools can speed up cloud collaboration and interoperability with other stakeholders in the design and construction process.
BIM models can also be generated from point cloud data from aerial and surface drone scans for existing site surveys and inspections. Drones provide a safe and efficient way to collect data from challenging or dangerous locations.
This data, when paired with cloud storage solutions, provides a significant improvement over traditional photos and field measurements. Companies should integrate drone and LIDAR scanning technologies in the early stages of design for better visualization, collaboration and more accurate data. Invest in drones or scanners and training for staff to champion the technologies.
Develop protocols for incorporating 3D point cloud data from these sources into the design processes. This can lead to improved project understanding of existing conditions, reduce field time and reduce design and construction errors and omissions.
Q: Why should businesses do to support the use of building information modeling?
A: With more data collected, a fast and reliable infrastructure is necessary to process and share the data. 5G mobile promises faster and more reliable connectivity, enabling the growth of data collection and other data-intensive applications.
Businesses should explore how 5G can enhance their operations and services. This may require investing in new equipment, adapting IT infrastructure, and developing new applications that leverage high-speed, low-latency connectivity.
To take advantage of these technological advances, businesses should adopt an initiative-taking and agile approach. To do this, businesses need to hire or train to build a tech-savvy workforce who can understand, implement, and manage these technologies. Employers need to listen to and invest in their employee’s interest in specific fields.
This approach creates a base level of empowered staff to incorporate innovative technologies into the company’s service strategies.
Q: What do engineering firms need to do to remain competitive and productive?
A: Given the rapidly evolving nature of technology, it is important to stay informed on the latest developments. Businesses need to collaborate and network with vendors, technology providers, startups and research institutions to stay abreast of the latest innovative products and regularly monitor industry advancements.
It is important to adapt to changing technological landscapes. Companies that are nimble in adopting new tools and services will remain competitive in tomorrow’s engineering landscape.
Jonathan George, project engineer/structural engineering manager, H.L. Turner Group
Q: What are some cutting-edge technologies utilized by H.L. Turner Group?
A: In the ever-evolving landscape of architecture and engineering, Turner Group stands out for its proficient utilization of the latest cutting-edge technology. At the core of this technological transformation are Autodesk ACC Build, BIM, Revit, and Navisworks — tools that redefine the efficiency of project execution.
ACC Build’s cloud-based modeling software serves as the cornerstone, enabling seamless collaboration across architectural, engineering, and construction teams nationwide and promoting a unified design approach that exceeds geographical boundaries.
Q: How do these tools improve the engineering design process?
A: The real-time integration capabilities of these tools bring a precision that aligns the model closely with construction requirements, minimizing field issues and serving as a time and budget-saving measure.
In the face of fast-paced, deadline-driven challenges, these technologies provide adaptability and instant communication, allowing for on-the-spot addressing of changes and efficient problem-solving.
The cloud-based nature of ACC Build introduces a new level of efficiency in project management, particularly beneficial for larger projects, simplifying workflows and enhancing overall project efficiency.
Turner Group’s implementation of ACC Build, BIM, Revit and Navisworks represents a tech-driven transformation, setting new standards for efficiency, collaboration and project success in architecture and engineering.
The combination of Revit with ACC Build and 3D Navisworks offers a powerful solution for clash detection, identifying construction problems in advance and ensuring a smoother construction process.
Navisworks’ Virtual Design Construction component further enhances efficiency, with a remarkable 95% reduction in construction problems.
This comprehensive approach, applied across the team, not only saves time and money but also fosters a harmonious team dynamic vital for successful project delivery. In essence, Turner Group’s embrace of these collaborative tools represents a tech-driven transformation, setting new standards for efficiency, collaboration, and project success in the realm of architecture and engineering.
Patrick Terrio, project engineer, DMI Inc., NHSaves.com
Q. How can the NHSaves program help my business or municipality?
A: The NHSaves program is a collaborative effort of the state’s electric and natural gas utilities with the aim of helping businesses and communities lower their utility bills, save on operating expenses, and protect the local environment.
There are incentives available for energy efficient design features included in the construction of a new building or the renovation of an existing building. The NHSaves program can also provide site specific design recommendations to our customers through the help of technical assistance vendors, such as my firm, DMI.
The NHSaves program incentives are not only for ground-up new construction projects or complete renovations — if you are upgrading specific HVAC or process equipment at your facility, the new equipment may qualify for energy incentives as well.
Q. When should I get the NHSaves utility partners involved with my new construction process?
A: As early as possible! Even if you are in the pre-design phase for a project, getting us involved early will give us the best opportunity to maximize the efficient design of the building as well as your incentive. I encourage you to reach out to your community’s program administrator today.
Once you have a preliminary design in hand, the utility partners and technical assistance vendors can provide design assistance through a design charrette with the project team.
The design charrette can be helpful as it encourages dialogue among all parties. The design charette will look beyond the first costs of a project to help ensure that the design takes into consideration long term operational energy expenses while maximizing utility incentives to reduce upfront costs.
Q. What do I have to pay to participate in this process?
A: Nothing, or more specifically, nothing extra. The NHSaves programs are supported by ratepayers via a small charge on each energy bill. Participation in the program through offerings such as the design charrette ensures that building owners are making the most of their investment.
In rare instances, additional technical assistance work is required to calculate the incentive, which would require a cost-share with the customer; however, the customer always has the option to pay the fee using some of the incentive.
Q. How are the incentives determined?
A: Generally, incentives are calculated based upon the annual energy savings that the project achieves relative to current energy code. The less energy that your building uses versus a code-compliant building, the higher incentive that you receive.
The NHSaves utility partners hire third-party TA vendors to model the annual energy usage of the facility as designed and compare it to a model of the facility that meets, but does not exceed, energy code. Sometimes certain design features are not covered by energy code (e.g., air compressors, or VRF systems); in these cases, we will establish a unique baseline system representative of industry standard practice.
The NHSaves program is also currently offering enhanced incentives for customers with Net Zero/Low EUI construction goals.
Q. What provides the biggest bang for your buck, energy efficiency-wise, when building a new facility?
A: The simplest target would be LED lighting. As for a more complex answer, I would say that making the effort to fully commission and test any installed measures is a wise investment. Your equipment won’t save you energy if it does not work properly, and a third-party commissioning agent can help identify and resolve startup issues before the project is closed out.
Q. What other types of measures are supported by the program?
A: While lighting is typically regarded as the first step, additional opportunities range from straightforward HVAC performance upgrades to complex custom projects that focus on specific aspects of a facility’s process equipment. If you have plans to install new equipment at your facility, chances are there is an energy efficient alternative. Reach out to your NHSaves utility partner and find out!
Gregory H. Smith, director and chairman, administrative law department and environmental practice group; Adam M. Dunville, environmental and energy director and vice-chairman, administrative law department; and Steven Yannacone, environmental and energy associate, administrative law department, McLane Middleton, mclane.com.
Q. What are the goals of the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
A: To achieve the world’s greenhouse gas reduction goals set forth in the Paris Agreement, global emissions must be reduced by 50% from 2005 levels by 2030, and 100% by 2050.
The efforts in this country to achieve these goals have been accelerated by the federal Infrastructure Act and Inflation Reduction Act.
The resulting improvements in sustainability and resiliency of our infrastructure and economy are being implemented in both the public and private sectors all across the country, and at the state and local level.
Q. What is New Hampshire doing to help achieve this goal?
A: In New Hampshire, municipal government plays a key role in land use planning and building code enforcement. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that buildings account for 30% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States — as much as the transportation sector.
To address this major cause of climate change, on July 1, 2022, New Hampshire adopted the International Code Council’s (ICC) 2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Energy Conservation Code.
The ICC has already published the 2021 Energy Conservation Code, and it will be finalizing and releasing the 2024 standards soon.
The Energy Conservation Code establishes minimum energy-efficiency standards in both new and existing residential and commercial buildings for walls, floors, ceilings, lighting, windows, doors, HVAC and boiler operations, duct leakage and air leakage. In addition, other New England States and New York have already implemented the 2021 Energy Conservation Code.
Q. What role do town and cities play?
A: In New Hampshire, municipalities are authorized to adopt higher standards for building construction, remodeling, and maintenance such as the Energy Conservation Code or the Zero Code, which emphasizes both on-site renewable energy consumption and off-site renewable energy procurement.
New Hampshire utilities offer energy efficiency incentive programs, and those for commercial properties defray up to 75% of retrofit costs.
Businesses and municipalities can, of course, take it upon themselves to do more than is strictly required by current law. Even if municipalities have not adopted higher standards, businesses may choose to implement them in order to reduce costs, gain reputational benefits, or attract new employees or business partners.
