With a chill in the air and the clocks turning back, there’s no doubt about it: winter is approaching, and the fall season will feel surprisingly fleeting. At 鶹վ, our thoughts about frozen ground and impending blizzards begins when many are planning barbeques and visits to the beach, as we believe it’s never too soon to start prepping for wintertime operations.
For clients and owners, winter conditions may seem like a fact of life, and sometimes, an inconvenience that threatens progress. While both can be true, the 鶹վ team also sees the winter season as an opportunity to power through challenging conditions that ensure jobs stay on-time and avoid costly overruns that can occur due to poor planning.
Prepping for the winter season involves multiple stakeholders, and the entirety of the project team working together to share insights and information that ensures decisions made as early as July pay dividends in January. Let’s take a look at the 鶹վ approach to winter site preparations.
Yes, we really do begin sketching out our strategy for winter shortly after the fourth of July holiday. Why, you ask? One of the biggest reasons involves heat sources. 鶹վ’s Operations and Self-Perform Division (NESB) begins soliciting input from any project that is out of the ground in the summer months for the quantities of heaters and BTU they will need and clarifying which fuel source the project intends to use. Additionally, if a diesel heater is requested, and a fuel cell is required, NESB will need to construct a jersey barrier “farm” around it, which necessitates ordering the requisite number of barriers in advance of winter’s arrival. A liquid propane heater configuration requires a similar tank “farm” surrounding the heater and propane tanks.
However, prep work goes well beyond just the number of heaters and fuel sources, as placing an order for over 2,000 gallons of propane requires an actual license from the town where the project is located. If you haven’t tried to get a license versus a permit lately, you may not be aware that procuring a license takes significantly longer. At the moment, 鶹վ is in the process of securing multiple licenses, an effort that began in the summer months. In addition, our team notifies abutters that we have applied for a license to have heat sources on site, which offers a glimpse into how technical a seemingly simple process is.
Other efforts our site division and operations team collaborate on include procuring ground thaw heaters, one of the “hottest” items for any construction team working in winter conditions; servicing and testing 鶹վ-owned equipment, including excavators, loaders, and bulldozers; determining which job sites need rock salt versus urea (a natural and concrete safe way of melting ice); and of course, compiling winter conditions budgets and sharing with project owners so they have a transparent look into pricing and how decisions that are made now can save money later on.
The 鶹վ safety team is just as active during the summer months and works together with NESB and operations to prep jobsites for colder conditions. When it comes to heating in-progress buildings to ensure pipes don’t freeze, required temperatures are maintained for building materials and so that workers are not subject to working in freezing temperatures. Other steps include fireproofing and temping in windows, and this preparation goes hand-in-hand with installing heaters. However, when a storm hits, the safety team kicks into high gear.
If a blizzard or other serious weather event is in the forecast, our teams implement a clear-it or close-it approach. This translates to clearing primary ingress/egress areas and closing off all other access points to the in-progress building. The primary goal is to direct workers to entering via one central location(s) for accessing the structure, which limits the potential for slips and falls. By keeping workers to one path when the snow hits, crushed stone can be spread to ensure maximum traction and cleared continuously throughout the workday. In addition, Toolbox Talks are held to discuss how workers can maintain a constant body temperature, dress appropriately, and protect themselves from falls from the upper floors. It may seem elementary, but repeatedly discussing safety strategy protects jobs from downtime and added costs. At 鶹վ, a culture of continuous improvement ensures that the work we do all throughout the year pays dividends when it matters most. From pre-construction planning that protects allowances for winter conditions in project budgets to proactive planning that ensures critical equipment and licenses are procured well in advance of the first flake of snow, the 鶹վ team works tirelessly to keep jobsites active and safe during the winter season. Learn more about our approach to pre-construction and safety on our website.
Each year, Construction Inclusion Week invites our industry to pause and reflect on the people who make our work possible. At 鶹վ, we see this moment as more than a celebration; it’s a call to action. Inclusion isn’t just about who’s at the table; it’s about who builds the table in the first place. And for us, it starts with culture.
Inclusion at 鶹վ is a culture-first commitment because it’s not a policy, it’s a mindset. It’s woven into how we hire, how we mentor, how we collaborate, how we build, and how we show up in the communities we serve. We believe that when people feel seen, supported, and inspired, they build better. They reach new career heights. They become mentors, innovators, and changemakers. That’s why our diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts are embedded in everything we do, from company-wide initiatives to the daily rhythms of our project teams.
鶹վ’s D&I goals are rooted in a simple but powerful belief: everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. We’re focused on:
These goals aren’t just aspirational, they’re actionable. And they come to life every day on our jobsites.
At the project level, inclusion drives performance, morale, and innovation. Here are a few ways we’re making it happen:
Inclusion also means amplifying the voices and values of our employees. That’s where 鶹վ’s Rising Tide nonprofit comes in. This employee-driven initiative allows our team members to nominate and support causes that matter most to them, often rooted in personal experiences or community connections.
Rising Tide reflects the heart of our culture: one that listens, uplifts, and acts. Whether it’s funding local youth programs, supporting health initiatives, or contributing to disaster relief, our employees shape the impact we make beyond the jobsite. It’s inclusion in action, where every story matters and every contribution counts.
For us, inclusion means showing up with empathy, curiosity, and respect. At 鶹վ, we believe culture drives everything. When our teams feel connected to a shared purpose and supported by a family-driven environment, they build with heart, and that’s reflected in the quality of our work.
From corporate fit-outs to affordable housing communities, our projects reflect the strength of our people. We see firsthand how diverse teams deliver exceptional results, exceed client expectations, and elevate the standards of our industry. This Construction Inclusion Week, we proudly celebrate the collective achievements of our teams, our partners, our communities, and we reaffirm our commitment to building a future where everyone belongs. We invite our peers across the industry to do the same: embrace inclusivity and commit to creating spaces where all voices are heard, valued, and empowered.
October 4th Event at Narragansett Middle School Offers Multiple Trade Opportunities.
鶹վ Construction Managers will be hosting a trade career fair on Saturday, October 4th from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Narragansett Middle school located at 460 Baldwinville Rd, in Baldwinville, MA.
This is an incredible opportunity for trades people to work on a meaning project in Templeton, MA. 鶹վ Construction Managers is leading the renovation and repurposing of a former school building into 54 new affordable housing units—bringing much-needed housing options to the community. This project represents more than just construction—it’s about breathing new life into an existing structure while creating safe, quality homes for local families.
Be sure to bring copies of your resume, and for additional information, contact Anastasie Duffaut at [email protected].
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu recently announced that the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) will make $40 million available to support the creation of affordable housing, which includes $4 million for unsheltered and/or aging populations. This is just one example of a significant push to deploy affordable housing resources across the country, which will likely continue in order to deal with a major shortfall of needed housing stock.
鶹վ Construction has worked with communities like Boston as well as cities and towns across the Northeast to get these projects out of the ground to provide safe, healthy living spaces for the most vulnerable members of society. Some of our current projects include Willow at The Ridgeway in Yonkers, The Baldwinville School Apartments in Templeton, Mass., 52 New Street in Cambridge, Mass. and Lee Fort Terrace in Salem, Mass.
While it is accepted that affordable housing is in demand, there are multiple considerations that developers and community housing agencies should consider before embarking on a new affordable initiative. Here are a few aspects of this evolving market that 鶹վ is watching.
Increasingly, 鶹վ is seeing a drive to make affordable housing communities as sustainable as possible. This includes the adoption of Passive House building standards, a performance-based energy efficiency standard for buildings that prioritizes the comfort and health of the occupants. Though LEED is still relevant, Passive House takes a different approach that focuses on the end-users as a guiding light for sustainability goals. With the large-scale adoption of opt-in stretch code, Passive House will begin having an outsized role in affordable construction.
Community engagement is also a key driver of making affordable housing projects more impactful than ever. A healthy dialogue between the project team and community leaders, such as city managers and housing authorities, leads to better information gathering and ultimately, a building design that reflects the desires of the community that will live there. In addition, job fairs that promote local hiring, along with meeting ambitious MBE and WBE goals, bring the community together in a profound way when it comes to creating safe and affordable residences. 鶹վ works hard to cultivate these relationships and give constituents a voice while investing in the local workforce.
Finally, to ensure every member of a project – from the owner to the developer to the subcontractor – has a stake in the result, 鶹վ encourages teams to get involved early in the pre-construction phase to ensure the final product aligns with budgetary requirements. In addition, 鶹վ has implemented stricter compliance requirements on its jobsites via technology tools like LCPtracker, a cloud-based SaaS solution for certified payroll, construction site compliance, and workforce reporting, to ensure workers on affordable projects are paid fairly and on time.
One of the most sure-fire ways for communities, developers, and owners to ensure project success is to be informed about local and federal requirements for affordable housing. 鶹վ routinely works with stakeholder groups to promote successful project delivery, and has found the following tips to be useful for teams tasked with determining the viability of a project:
For more information on 鶹վ’s affordable housing experience, click here.
When a construction company considers different markets to build in, numerous factors come into play. Chief among them is access to a talented local workforce, along with a steady pipeline of potential projects coming online. As you begin to get more granular in your assessments, the economic drivers for entering a particular state begin to get very specific.
At 鶹վ, we’ve been fortunate to expand from our headquarters in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, to additional markets like Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. In the case of the Granite State, an active pipeline of projects around major metropolitan areas has combined with lower costs and reduced regulatory complexity to make it a compelling place to do business.
Over the next several years, we expect to see continued growth across all 鶹վ markets, and below you will find some key data points that excite us about future activity north of Route 128.
Numerous measurement tools point to New Hampshire’s status as an economic powerhouse, but this status isn’t achieved through heavy fees and generous tax breaks to large corporations. The Granite State leverages a low tax burden on both individuals and businesses to keep its economy humming, while a booming tourism industry relies on the state’s dominance as a playground for outdoor recreation as a reliable source four-season income.
According to , New Hampshire’s outdoor recreation industry is responsible for over 30,000 jobs and adding almost $4 billion to the state’s economy. Couple this with zero income tax for residents, no sales tax, and no inheritance/estate taxes, and you have a recipe for a very financially friendly existence. Even the business profit tax rate is quite competitive, .
The construction industry is also a major economic driver, with the United States Census Bureau reporting at the end of 2024 that the value of state and local construction in NH in 2023 was $1.18 billion, representing a over the prior year.
New Hampshire’s Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) is another example of a strategic advantage for local businesses, as it works to help with all manners of issues, from permitting requirements to cultivating a strong workforce. In addition, economic development agencies at the local level are also a tremendous resource, as we personally experienced working closely with the City of Manchester’s Economic Development Office during the construction of the 75 Canal residential community and currently with the city of Salem as we march towards completion of the Tuscan Village mixed-use project.
Compared to other New England states, New Hampshire’s regulatory environment is often friendlier, allowing for speedier time-to-market when it comes to launching new projects. For instance, Massachusetts’ plan for decarbonization is quite ambitious, with policies like BERDO and BUEDO beginning to be replicated outside of Boston. While New Hampshire also has instituted a Climate Action Plan, the impact of this policy has fewer hurdles and economic penalties attached. While all climate policy is essentially “good” policy, New Hampshire’s approach allows for greater flexibility when it comes to building or renovating commercial structures.
While no one place is perfect, 鶹վ is excited to see New Hampshire get the recognition it deserves for the sensible approach it has taken to regulatory and tax policies and leveraging its strengths and people to spur job creation and economic growth.
To learn more about 鶹վ & our projects, visit our website.
In the latest edition of 鶹վ’s News Magazine, Digging Deep, QA/QC Manager Will Gregg dives into the details of 鶹վ’s quality program and how it continues to evolve to support exceptional project outcomes and reduce risk across the board.
Will provides valuable insight on quality and highlights the importance of early involvement, lessons learned, and continuous improvement in maintaining high construction standards.
This episode emphasizes new roles within our QA/QC team, the value of pre-planning, and how our energy efficiency efforts, like Passive House initiatives, are helping shape the future of sustainable building.
to watch the full episode of Digging Deep.

鶹վ Construction has embarked on numerous projects in Connecticut over the years focusing on mixed-use developments, along with affordable and market-rate housing. While every market has been impacted by broader economic forces occurring at the federal level, a groundswell of activity in the Nutmeg State points to continued resiliency in segments like affordable housing, where smart reuse and economic incentive packages are having an impact.
On a national level, affordable housing is lacking in almost every major metro area. State and local leaders are grappling with ways to create more activity in historically tight real estate markets, and Connecticut continues to serve as a model for using existing buildings along with creating smart development packages to spur activity and investment. There are some key trends worth noting that showcase how Connecticut is leading the way:
Looking ahead at projects in the pipeline or close to kicking off, we expect that Connecticut will continue to leverage adaptive reuse to push residential projects forward. In addition to the sustainable impact of reusing versus knocking down and building new, existing structures in an formerly industrial economy like New England are typically located near transit hubs or other intersections of people and commerce.
We also expect that projects incorporating an affordable component will see increased incentivization from lawmakers and strong support from the developers that want to bring those properties to market. Connecticut leaders have found ways to leverage tax incentives and other resources to spur much-needed affordable housing activity, and we expect this will only accelerate in the coming years.
Finally, it seems likely that lawmakers will continue to look for ways to streamline projects from concept to reality, especially if it adds needed housing stock to statewide inventory. The Spark on Cedar development is a fantastic example of the project team of Anthony Properties, Perry Reid Properties, the Town of Newington, and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) working together to bring a project to fruition, and we at 鶹վ look forward to being part of similar projects in the year ahead
By , Safety Director, 鶹վ Construction
This year, bears a theme of “All in Together,” which undoubtedly speaks to the need for the entire team – from the building owner to the smallest subcontractor – to have a stake in keeping the project and its people as safe as possible.
However, what if safety could go farther? What if the team can go all-in on technology, communication, and accountability in a way that raises the bar beyond expectations? Oftentimes, when expectations are raised, there’s a reluctance to take on the additional work that goes along with it. But when technology is introduced in a way that makes the quality of the work better without a stiff time or effort penalty, everyone wins.
At 鶹վ, we’ve found ways to raise the bar that simultaneously increases the quality of our jobsite for our peers and partners, all to the benefit of our valued client base. Below are some of the key ways we’re raising awareness and expectations around construction safety:
At 鶹վ, we’re proud to celebrate Construction Safety Week but also recognize our responsibility to constantly enhance our safety strategies through deployment of innovative tools and training – making our team and subcontractors “all in” on safety, all the time. For more information on our safety program, click here.
鶹վ is proud of the progress we’ve made growing our footprint in the Tri-State area. When we opened our White Plains office, we were determined to bring the quality we’re known for to new clients across the markets we know best—multi-family and affordable housing, mixed-use and retail developments, and senior living communities.
Like any region, there’s some level of uncertainty everywhere you look—but we’re excited about what the future holds in the Empire State. Here are a few trends and developments we’re keeping a close eye on:
PACT is a NYCHA program designed to leverage private and non-profit partners to convert eligible public housing properties to Project-Based Section 8. This allows for much-needed capital improvements while maintaining affordability for residents.
Since 2016, more than $7B has been invested into PACT projects, but NYCHA estimates it will take $78B to fully fund the program. There’s a massive opportunity here for meaningful public-private partnerships, though there’s still a lot of work to do.
At 鶹վ, we routinely work with developers and public agencies to bring affordable housing to life—and we’re optimistic about the positive impact PACT can have in the years ahead.
It’s no secret it’s expensive to live in Manhattan. Over the years, more and more people have looked outside the five boroughs for housing—especially along the Metro-North corridor—finding better value in communities where they can still commute into the city if needed.
We’re expecting to see continued growth in market-rate housing across the suburbs north and east of NYC, extending into upstate New York and parts of New Jersey. This trend opens the door for residents to get into the market without needing to change jobs just to afford it.
鶹վ recently completed Alexander Crossing in Yonkers, a project that supports work-from-home lifestyles while still offering proximity to transit. It’s the type of flexible, future-ready development we expect to see more of.
If you can’t build out, build up. That’s the mindset taking hold in places like Port Chester, New Rochelle, and White Plains, where local leaders are updating zoning to allow for taller residential buildings.
In many of these small-to-mid-sized cities, there’s limited space to expand outward, but increased height allowances for MDUs (multi-dwelling units) could help unlock more housing supply where it’s needed most.
This kind of local policy shift could be just the spark needed to get some long-anticipated projects moving, and we’re watching it closely.
This isn’t unique to New York: cities everywhere are dealing with how to repurpose underutilized office and retail buildings. And it’s a bigger issue in Westchester because some of these buildings are so large. Converting them to residential sounds great in theory, but in practice, it’s not always that simple. Between the size and shape, structural constraints, zoning, and cost, it can be a real challenge to make the numbers work.
One potential solution? Blending retail and residential. That’s the approach behind two of our projects, New City and Bay Terrace, where we’re helping turn traditional shopping centers into mixed-use destinations that better reflect today’s living and shopping habits.
Since COVID, our industry has dealt with its fair share of curveballs, from supply chain disruptions and labor shortages to shifting immigration policies and the ever-present wildcard of interest rates and tariffs.
It’s a lot to navigate, which is why strong preconstruction services are more valuable than ever. At 鶹վ, we help our clients get a clearer picture up front so budgeting and planning doesn’t turn into guesswork. And when it makes sense, our ability to self-perform sitework can create efficiencies that help control costs and improve quality at the same time while most importantly mitigating as much risk as possible.
The New York market and the surrounding Tri-State area represent real opportunity for 鶹վ. We’re excited to continue working alongside our public and private sector partners to get much-needed projects out of the ground despite the headwinds our industry continues to face.
To learn more on happenings in the New York market or how 鶹վ can help with your next construction proejct please contact David Morrow or Phil Dinan.
The first week of March is known throughout our industry as Women in Construction week, wherein we recognize both the achievements of the women who lead projects from the jobsite and the home office, as well as celebrate how far the A/E/C world has come in creating opportunities for every member of the team.
This year’s theme is “Together We Rise,” a fitting statement considering how unique the construction workplace is in banding together in pursuit of a common goal – and now, more than ever, we are united behind the pursuit of bringing even more women into the fold as we work to build tomorrow’s great buildings.
How does 鶹վ rise to the occasion?
Any firm that signals an appreciation or support of women in construction needs to put their money where their mouth is. A from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that 10.8% of construction workers in the United States are women – clearly, we have some room to grow in creating more opportunities for women to enter the industry. How does 鶹վ do this? In a few distinct ways:
We advance women’s voices – from the field to the executive team: 鶹վ believes in providing everyone with the opportunity to lead teams and projects to the best possible outcome. Advancing from within is a core 鶹վ value, and we’re proud to have women leading multiple aspects of our day-to-day business strategy and project performance.
We create open forums for communication: You can’t call your firm a leader in letting all voices be heard if there’s no avenue for dialog. From regular company forums to social events and everything in between, 鶹վ culture prioritizes equal amplification of voices and sensitivity towards issues that impact each employee differently.
We put our boots on the ground in the communities we serve: Many organizations that 鶹վ supports through financial donations and volunteerism help to address issues that uniquely affect women. Guided by the women on our team, our organization supports nonprofits and other community institutions via direct feedback from our employees.
We believe mentoring is a team sport: Mentorship opportunities abound at 鶹վ, and a forward-looking organization like ours creates numerous opportunities for seasoned executives and field leaders to provide next-generation workers with insights that will transform their careers. With many women among our up-and-coming project management teams, we are committed to giving them the tools they need to advance to the next level of leadership.
It takes an entire industry to make change permanent
鶹վ is proud to support Women in Construction Week, and we remind our partners and colleagues that the best way to drive opportunities for women on their teams is through thoughtful collaboration, meaningful mentorship, and ongoing learning. And if you’re looking for ways to understand some of the unique challenges women face in our industry, consider leading a dialog with your teams on one of the topics below.
Top discussion topics for Women in Construction Week:
Being open to discussing thought-provoking conversations has helped our teams immensely and shaped our culture for the better. Let’s all make the 2025 Women in Construction week more impactful than ever:
For more information on 鶹վ’s culture, click here.
鶹վ is committed to building strong, long-lasting client relationships, and to consistently delivering solutions that exceed expectations. Contact us today about starting your next project.