Nancy Hamilton, S.E., P.E., has joined HOK as the new director of engineering services. Based in Chicago, Hamilton leads the company’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing, and structural engineering group. She brings to HOK 24 years of experience, including leadership roles with Arup.
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Unified School District has unveiled a new system intended to keep the nation’s second-largest school district up to date on maintenance issues throughout its 800 campuses.
The district is the first to create a maintenance smart phone application for students, faculty and staff. The user sends in a photo of the maintenance issue to IBM Maximo software, which manages the district’s physical assets and work orders. From there, the district’s facilities crews assess the situation and come up with a response.
Urban school facilities can be very challenging because they have undergone extensive change during the last 60 years. It began in the 1950s when urban school districts and first-ring suburbs experienced major growth. This was followed by the impact of desegregation in the 1960s and a rapid decline in enrollment in the 1970s related to lower birthrates and migration to the suburbs.
Messer Construction promotes Steve Eder as vice president of the company. In his new role, Eder will provide leadership for Cincinnati project operations and performance. A University of Cincinnati graduate, Eder joined Messer in 1979. His work over the years includes projects for Cincinnati Financial Corporation, Dearborn County Hospital, University Hospital, and Xavier University.
SAN DIEGO — Those at San Diego State University are committed to clean energy. SDSU is now powering one of its busiest student facilities with solar energy. The Aztec Recreation Center is the newest addition to student initiated sustainability projects on campus. The ARC is managed by the student group, Associated Students and will be the second largest solar array on campus.
DALLAS — The renovation and expansion of Mitchell Elementary School in Dallas, Texas, is being led by Dallas-based Cadence McShane Construction Company and is slated for completion in August 2013.
The Maintaining and Operating of Schools Goes Far Beyond Just Cleaning and Construction
Much has changed over the decades in the maintenance and operations of schools. The facilities industry no longer just comprises individuals who know a little something about construction or cleaning. New building technologies and increasing legislative requirements have placed a strong focus on professionalism and the importance of working with industry leaders.
McCarthy Building Companies Inc. promoted Steve Poulin to project director for the education services business unit of the firm’s Southwest division. In this new position, Poulin will oversee K-12 projects in Arizona and foster collaboration with the owner, design team and subcontractors; serve as a liaison between the office and field team; champion job-site safety efforts and proactively manage project budgets and schedules.
Karen Sander was named as project designer at MKSD Architects, focused on sustainability. A LEED Green Associate, her experience includes work at Kutztown University and St. Luke’s Hospital and Health Network. Sander earned her bachelor’s degree in architecture from Penn State University.
