Women In Construction Week

Women in Construction Week is led by the National Association of Women in Construction to celebrate women and their key role in the construction industry. This year's theme, 'Keys to the Future', honors the important role women have in affecting the future of the construction industry.

At GRLA, we are proud of our team of women and the contributions they are making to not only GRLA projects, but the future of the built environment.

What is your role at GRLA and what do you enjoy most about the work that you do?

Rebecca Burlingame

As an interior designer at GRLA, my role revolves around collaborating with both clients and team members. I find great joy in orchestrating the transformation of spaces, merging beauty with functionality. The thrill lies in the evolution of designs as I gather programming information, client goals, and ideas, molding them into a cohesive space that fulfills their needs.

Jyotika Girdhar

In my role as a Building Envelope Sciences Technician at GRLA, my focus is creating comprehensive construction document sets, conducting site visits, and preparing detailed field reports. I work closely with Project Managers on diverse roof projects, including restoration and replacement. Much of my time is spent drafting in CAD, which can be challenging, but I do find it enjoyable. Furthermore, researching products and compiling data are aspects of my work that I particularly find satisfying at GRLA.

Skye Jensen

I'm the Director of Finance at GRLA, managing diverse tasks like payroll, receivables, payables, and job cost accounting. What I love most is working with the team to ensure projects stay on budget and on track.

My experience as a member of NAWIC Greater Worcester Chapter #241 has exceeded expectations. Connecting with women across various industries, sharing stories, and collaborating on community services, like supporting Girl Scouts and fundraising for scholarships, has been incredibly rewarding.

Stephanie Konicki

As an interior designer at GRLA, I thrive on engaging in various project phases. Whether diving into construction set details or selecting fabrics for furniture, each day presents a different challenge, making the work consistently exciting. The presence of a supportive team enhances my experience, providing a continuous learning environment that adds to the overall enjoyment of my role.

Dina Soliman

As a Project Manager at GRLA, I oversee a variety of projects, with a major focus on designing spaces for life sciences clients.

I find the collaborative journey with the design team rewarding, from conceptualizing ideas to supporting each other through successful project completion. I thrive on seeing projects evolve from sketches to functional spaces, and I enjoy coordinating with diverse engineering trades. The construction administration phase serves as a rich learning experience for me, providing insights for future projects. Establishing enduring relationships with clients and witnessing their satisfaction upon project completion are the most fulfilling aspects of my role. Experiencing the completed space that we've designed and seeing it in use and being enjoyed is truly remarkable.

GRLA Welcomes Two New Hires

Aaron Kotilainen

GRLA is thrilled to welcome two new employees to the building envelope science team, Aaron Kotilainen as an Assistant Project Manager and Owalid Rahman as a BES Technician.

Aaron brings significant experience managing building envelope projects from existing conditions evaluations to design through construction administration. He has worked on a variety of project types including masonry restoration, large scale fenestration replacement, building recladding, concrete restoration, and low and steep slope roofing replacements.    

He is well versed in forensic evaluations on problematic legacy and new building systems including ASTM and AAMA water testing standards. He also specializes in performing parametric energy and hygrothermal/dewpoint modeling simulations on existing and proposed envelope systems.

Owalid Rahman

Owalid recently received a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from Fitchburg State University. As a Building Envelope Sciences Technician Owalid is responsible for conducting field inspections and fenestration testing, preparing construction drawings and detailed, processing submittals, performing construction site visits and other construction administration tasks. Owalid will also be assisting our Architecture Team in a similar capacity.

“I am excited for the exceptional skills and knowledge that both Aaron and Owalid bring to our team. They are both eager to take on this new chapter with GRLA and provide our clients with exceptional service,” says Chris Paszko, Director of Building Envelope Sciences.

Robert Gutmann is Promoted to Project Manager

GRLA is pleased to announce that Robert Gutmann has been promoted to Project Manager. Robert manages a variety of building envelope projects including roof restorations, property assessment studies, leak investigations, and testing for residential condominium developments, academic and civic buildings.

“Robert brings his attention to detail and thorough understanding of the building envelope to each of the projects he manages. He is an integral part of our BES team and welcomes new opportunities and challenges with enthusiasm. He has shown great dedication to the team and our clients, and we are excited for him to take on this new expanded role.” shares Chris Paszko, Director of Building Envelope Sciences.

Robert is an active member of the CSI Worcester Chapter where he serves as secretary on the board of directors.

GRLA Completes Renovations at the Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University

Mission Control - Christa McAuliffe Challenger Center for Integrated Science Learning

GRLA recently completed the renovations at the Christa McAuliffe Challenger Center for Integrated Science Learning at Framingham State University. GRLA worked closely with the Massachusetts State College Building Authority, STV, Inc., Commodore Builders, and Fitzemeyer & Tocci Associates to complete this project. The McAuliffe Center at FSU was originally built in 1994 and has been renovated to integrate the newest technologies and systems that represent the latest in Challenger Learning Centers nationwide.

The goal of the project was to convert the current center, used by students in grades K-12, into a suite of multifunctional, technology-enabled learning spaces, and to introduce modern visualizations and simulation capabilities. The lobby, Mission Control, Spacecraft, and Planetarium underwent a full redesign, along with support spaces like administration offices and restrooms. The lobby space was enhanced to accommodate large gatherings and create a seamless transition to the Challenger Command Center. The Command Center and the Spacecraft Experience were completely redesigned and equipped with new infrastructure. The planetarium was renovated to become a multifunctional space with moveable seats and equipped with state-of-the-art Projection Systems allowing presentations to be live and interactive.

Interior finishes, graphics and design elements were coordinated to promote excitement and interest in space study.  

Congratulations to Ty Spencer

GRLA is proud to share the achievement of our Building Envelope Project Manager, Ty Spencer. Ty recently completed the Building Enclosure Commissioning certification course offered by the office of Interdisciplinary Professional Programs (InterPro) at the College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Upon completion of an intensive week-long training program, Ty successfully demonstrated his knowledge of the material by passing the examinations to obtain both Building Enclosure Commissioning Process Provider (BECxP) and Accredited Commissioning Authority + Building Enclosure (CxA+BE) certifications.

Ty Spencer Talks Building Envelope Sciences to Fitchburg State Students

Ty Spencer, a Building Envelope Project Manager at GRLA, recently had the opportunity to share his expertise with a group of Engineering Technology students from Fitchburg State University. The event took place at the Pella showroom in West Boylston, where Ty presented an insightful overview of building envelope sciences. During the session, he delved into the many components of the building envelope, shedding light on their importance in improving energy efficiency and overall performance. The students eagerly absorbed the valuable knowledge shared by Ty, gaining a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in creating sustainable and high-performance building envelopes. This educational experience further solidified GRLA's commitment to fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the architectural community.

Three New Employees Join GRLA

GRLA is proud to welcome three new employees - Jyotika Girdhar, Stephanie Konicki and Andrew Turgeon.

Jyotika Girdhar has joined the Building Envelope Sciences group as a BES Technician responsible for producing drawing sets and details, processing submittals, and conducting field inspections. With a master’s degree in environmental architecture from the University of Pune in India, Jyotika is a dedicated environmental enthusiast with a strong foundation in architectural design and sustainability. She brings her passion for sustainable building design and maximizing energy efficiency to GRLA’s building envelope sciences team.

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Stephanie Konicki is part of the Interior Design team. She is a graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. Stephanie thrives on working with clients to help them visualize their finished space and providing them with creative design concepts through various finish selections, fixtures, and furnishings. She has a variety of experience including educational, commercial, and mixed-use projects.

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Andrew Turgeon is a BES Technician with GRLA’s Building Envelope Sciences team. He is an engineer with a breadth of experience ranging from industrial manufacturing to residential and civil construction. He has a passion for the built environment and designing with a purpose for long-term maintainability and efficiency. Andrew received a master’s degree in Material Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is currently pursuing a Master of Architecture from the Boston Architectural College.

GRLA Completes Two Projects at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Washburn Shops Laboratory

GRLA’s Principal, Scott Richardson and Project Manager, James Blattenberger are proud to announce the completion of two concurrent renovations at Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s (WPI) Washburn Shops and Daniels Hall.

Working in partnership with WPI Facilities and Consigli Construction Company, GRLA designed modifications for two specialty research and testing labs located in the historic Washburn Shops, built in 1868 and known as the oldest building in the United States still used for engineering education. These spaces were located on the lower level and main level of the building and house Manufacturing Engineering and Material Science machinery and equipment.

Daniels Hall, a four-story residential building circa 1960s with original fixtures in operation needed updating. GRLA collaborated with WPI Residential Services, WPI Facilities and the Shawmut Design and Construction team for phase one of a restroom renovation and window replacement project. Existing restrooms and shower facilities were fully replaced with private showers, multiple fully accessible restroom and shower combinations, and all new finishes, fixtures, and lighting. Phase two and a complete window replacement is planned for the summer of 2024.

GRLA Welcomes Summer Interns

GRLA is pleased to welcome the following summer interns. At GRLA we believe that supporting young minds with on the job training is vital to both their success as well as the future of the AEC industry.

Abby Casady

Abby is a third-year architecture student at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. As a summer intern at GRLA, Abby is excited to see how an architecture firm works and to learn about GRLA’s wide range of projects. When taking a break from studying or working, Abby enjoys sewing, hiking, and going to the beach!

Bradley Lyon

Bradley recently graduated from the Drafting and Design program at Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional HS. In September he will attend Northeastern University as an architecture major. As a summer intern, Bradley hopes to acquire insight into the architecture industry and architectural processes, as well as learn about future career options. In his free time Bradley enjoys playing soccer, biking, listening to music, going to the gym, and travelling.

CamERON Richardson

Cameron is working on a Bachelor of Business degree at Fisher College in Boston and will continue with a Master of Architecture. While interning at GRLA, Cameron would like to learn about building envelope sciences so that he knows what to expect in the future and also get a head start on his career. Outside of school and work, he likes to play basketball, go to the gym, and hang out with friends. 

Anna Sullivan

Anna is studying interior architecture at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. Her goal as a summer intern is to immerse herself in the professional design industry and gain exposure to real world experiences and practices. In her downtime, Anna enjoys making art as well as being outdoors and going to the beach while spending time with my family and friends.

Ashland Mills Project in Planning and Approvals Phase

Ashland Mills - View from Myrtle Street

The revitalization of the Town of Ashland’s Main Street has been on the Town’s agenda for nearly two decades. GRLA is currently working with the owner of 10-50 Main Street, Ashland Properties of Holliston, Massachusetts, to develop the existing 8-acre site bringing a renewed mixed-use development to the downtown.

GRLA has master planned the renovations of two of the existing historic buildings and designed new buildings to the complex to provide 190 residential units and approximately 28,000 SF of commercial space. The design concept provides for Main Street focused retail and restaurant spaces, outdoor dining areas and a central courtyard to promote economic investment. Another unique site feature is a riverwalk amenity that provides a walkway along the south and east of the property adjacent to the Sudbury River and connects to the existing Mill Pond Park area.

Sustainable features include roof mounted solar panels, an electric shuttle to provide access to the MBTA stop located less than a mile away, fully electric utilities, all LED lighting, compliance with the new energy code and enhanced building envelope features.

The project is in the approvals phase with the Town of Ashland.

Ashland Mills - South Corner

Ty Spencer is Promoted to Project Manager

GRLA is pleased to announce that Ty Spencer has been promoted to Project Manager. Ty has been a member of the firm’s Building Envelope Sciences team for over 7 years.  His work includes Building Envelope Commissioning, Window Testing and Infrared Thermography as well as Building Envelope Assessments and Design of roofing, exterior cladding, windows, waterproofing and concrete repair projects.

Boxford’s New Community Center Prepares for a Grand Opening on April 15th

GRLA is proud to announce the completion of The Center at 10 Elm, the Town of Boxford’s new community center and the new home of the Boxford Council on Aging (COA). It is a multigenerational community center for people to gather, share in activities, and enjoy community events. 

GRLA closely collaborated with the Town of Boxford and many constituents to achieve their goals which included:

• Developing new program spaces and expanded services for seniors and all community groups

• Providing universal access throughout the center

• Completely electric building systems - reinforcing the town’s commitment to sustainability

• Restoring the historic Cummings House and incorporating it into the building’s program

• Designing welcoming and warm interior spaces

The Center at 10 Elm includes the renovation and refurbishment of the original Cummings House, a late 19th century, timber frame home and a new 5,000 sf addition. The addition is equipped with a commercial fully accessible kitchen, two large multi-purpose rooms for dining, fitness and enrichment classes, an outdoor patio, administrative offices, nurse’s office and support spaces, a wonderful conference space in the Cummings House and a spacious lobby entrance.

Additional features such as electric vehicle charging stations, energy monitoring systems and outdoor raised planting beds contribute to the Town’s goals for incorporating sustainability into their new public buildings. Construction was completed by Classic Construction and Development.

And a quote from Liz Murphy of the COA: “I want to thank GRLA for the countless hours you put in and the incredible skill you demonstrated in your design.  You were presented with a very challenging project, and you were able to create a building that was embraced by the entire community.  Your design made our job so much easier — somehow you managed to get everything we need for our programming — and it is a beautiful building!”

GRLA and RP Masiello Partner on a New 40,000 SF Lab Building in Northbridge

Watertown based EyePoint Pharmaceuticals has engaged Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects (GRLA) to design a new 40,000 SF lab building located in Northbridge, Massachusetts. EyePoint Pharmaceuticals (EyePoint) develops solutions and technologies to help people facing serious eye disorders.

To assist EyePoint in their continued mission of delivering high-quality, safe medicines to patients, GRLA is working closely with construction manager RP Masiello and process engineers RemTech and Phoenix Engineering to create a state-of-the-art facility to expand their lab and manufacturing space. The new building will include clean manufacturing space, support and research labs, warehouse space and office areas.

Construction is slated to start mid-summer and be completed by mid-2024.

GRLA Leads the Design at the Christa McAuliffe Center

GRLA is the lead architect working closely with the Massachusetts State College Building Authority, STV as the Owner’s Project Manager and the construction manager, Commodore Builders, for the renovations at the Christa McAuliffe Challenger Center for Integrated Science Learning at Framingham State University (FSU). The McAuliffe Center was built in 1994 and is now being renovated to integrate the new technologies and systems that represent the latest in Challenger Learning Centers which are located nationwide.

The goal of the project is to convert the current center, located in O’Connor Hall on the FSU campus, into a suite of multifunctional, technology-enabled learning spaces, and to introduce modern visualizations and simulation capabilities. The project also includes upgrades to the planetarium projection equipment and furnishings which was added to the facility in 2012.

Construction is slated to be completed by September 2023 to coincide with the new school year.

GRLA Welcomes Heather Cobb

GRLA is pleased to announce that Heather Cobb has joined the firm as an Integrated Services Project Manager. In this role, Heather will support Architecture, Building Envelope Science, and Interiors projects and will coordinate with consultants, contractors, and vendors from the design phase through construction.  She will provide field support through verification of site conditions and prepare field reports and related investigative documents and coordinate findings with our design teams and project managers.

Heather brings over 12 years of experience having worked for JM Coull, Inc. supporting and managing construction projects for the corporate, life science, higher education, and health care markets. Heather has worked on new construction, renovation and building expansion projects including complex lab projects of over 100,000 SF.

Scott Richardson, Principal of GRLA states, “We are very excited to have Heather join our team and bring her considerable construction expertise to enhance our project delivery services.”

ABC-MA Presents Highest Honor ‘Eagle Award’

GRLA is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC-MA) recently presented Connolly Brothers, Inc. with the Eagle Award at its annual Excellence in Construction Awards gala. Connolly Brothers received the Eagle Award, which is the highest honor in the General Contractor/Industrial category, for its work on Vicor Corporation’s 95,000 SF expansion at its manufacturing facility located in Andover, Massachusetts.

GRLA designed the new two-story specialized manufacturing addition that connects to the existing three-story facility as well as a new three-story south addition which includes the main entrance lobby, boardroom, conference room, roof patio and expanded cafeteria seating areas. This project helped Vicor achieve their goal of maximizing their equipment, process, and product flow, and expanding their overall manufacturing capacity.

Additional project members included Meridian Associates for civil, H+O Structural Engineers and WB Engineering for MEP. Connolly Brothers also received the ABC-MA Spirt Award for including 11 sub-contractors on the project that are all ABC members. 

Camp Chickami Opens New Lodge

Loch’s Lodge, YMCA Camp Chickami Wayland, Massachusetts

Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects proudly attended the ribbon cutting for the opening of the new 6,000 SF post and beam multipurpose building designed for the West Suburban YMCA at Camp Chickami in Wayland, Massachusetts.

It is a slab on grade, one-story, wood framed lodge with a loft area that fits right into the tree-lined camp site with its stained bottle green wood exterior and sloping roof. The welcoming wood beamed interior and open concept plan provides the much needed, modern multipurpose indoor/outdoor spaces by way of two glass overhead doors and high ceilings. In addition, the building houses camp offices, restrooms, and a nurse’s office. A key feature of the building is the extensive covered deck that overlooks the playing fields and offers another protected gathering space for campers and staff.

Wood beamed interior

The YMCA has proudly named the new building Loch’s Lodge in honor of Jim “Loch” Lochiatto, whose passion, creativity, and dedication shaped Camp Chickami and changed children’s lives for more than 40 years. Since the mid-1950s Camp Chickami has been a destination for children ages 9-15 to explore nature and enjoy good, old-fashioned, crazy fun. The West Suburban YMCA staff, past and present, know the important role Camp Chickami plays in the lives of both the campers and the staff. They had a vision to build a new lodge for all to enjoy and worked tirelessly to make that vision a reality. This new space was a dream come true for the YMCA team.

Construction for the barn and related site work was completed by Commodore Builders.

Expansive covered front deck

Phase 2 planned for the spring of 2023 includes a tent structure next door to provide further protected play and activity spaces for campers. Phase 3 plans offer an expanded pool and new bathhouse to future campers for many years to come. You can learn more about the West Suburban YMCA Camp Chickami plans.

Expansion Completed at Summit Montessori in Framingham

GRLA is pleased to announce the completion of the next phase of expansion for the Summit Montessori School in Framingham. GRLA originally worked with Summit Montessori in 1996 to convert the historic Moses Ellis House (circa 1866) into a unique Montessori School environment.

As part of a phased master planned expansion, GRLA designed a gymnasium/multipurpose space, kitchen area, expanded art classes and offices and the relocated Beginners Program classrooms.

This phase of work completes the Beginners Program relocation and expansion. The two new classrooms provide an open environment with a common shared teacher resource and work area between them. Both classrooms have ample daylight and direct access to the outdoor play areas, which is critical in the Montessori learning approach.

Also included is additional office space, much needed storage space and a large multipurpose room that can accommodate up to 50 occupants for a variety of school activities, group meetings, rainy day space as well as parent attended events.

Construction was completed by Rubicon Builders.

More project photos

GRLA Announces 2022 Promotions

GRLA is very proud to announce the promotions of the following team members.

James Blattenberger has been promoted to Project Manager. James has over 15 years of experience in the residential/small commercial sector.  He works in all phases of design to produce detailed sets of construction documents and provide construction phase services for multiple projects.

Dina Soliman has been promoted to Project Manager. Dina’s passion for design is evident through her commitment to providing creative ideas throughout the design process. Dina has over 10 years of experience in the design and construction industry. She is well versed in construction documents preparation, construction administration, and project management of various types of projects.

Brandon Gaulin has been promoted to Designer II. Brandon’s experience is in both architectural and building envelope design. He takes a project from conceptual design through design development to the construction document phase. He also works with GRLA’s BES team on building envelope testing and studies.

Scott Richardson Joins the Hopkinton Center for the Arts Board of Directors

GRLA is pleased to announce that, Scott Richardson, the firm’s President has joined the Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA) Board of Directors. Scott has been involved with the HCA from its very inception, working diligently with the staff, board members and volunteers to bring the center to life. It has been a passion project of his for over twenty years.

“The HCA is thrilled to have Scott Richardson as a new member of our board.  He has been such an instrumental part of the HCA's history and success that it is only fitting that he now serves in a leadership role helping the HCA chart its next course.  His vision, commitment to the community and his talents as an artist are all a welcome addition to our dedicated team,” offered HCA Executive Director Kelly Grill.

The Board of Directors includes local arts and business representatives whose wide range of experience and leadership contribute to the success of the HCA. The Board members assist in the fiscal maintenance and stability of the organization as well participating in fundraising activities.