Fueled by innovative discussions and out-of-the-box thinking, this conference was packed with short “Timber Talks”, where we heard a variety of perspectives on the importance of sustainability, climate change action, passive house, and the supply chain of mass timber. The discussions also focused on sparking a mass timber economy here in Maine.

Maine is the most forested state in the U.S. with 89% forested lands. Over time, the pulp and paper industry has declined, leaving a loss of identity and community in many of our rural areas. Utilizing Maine’s natural resources to stimulate the economy and provide a healthier environment while doing so, is a unique opportunity.

It was exceptionally rewarding to attend part of the conference at USM’s McGoldrick Center, a mass timber project completed by PC Construction in 2023. PC strives to promote sustainable building practices on all our projects and are excited to see a future that incorporates more mass timber in building design.

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This event provided opportunities for over 1,000 students to observe and operate equipment, all under the watchful eyes of competent trained individuals with a focus on safety. The goal of this event is to promote excitement in the construction industry as an attractive option for future career paths.

As a new NAWIC member to Maine Chapter 276, it was great to see so many engaged and interested students discussing the future of construction at this signature event. Continued exposure to different trades helps build the next generation of construction workers in Maine and beyond.

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Originally built in 1977, there have been several additions and renovations to the Alfond Arena and the connection to the Shawn Walsh building. To support this varied infrastructure, we are working through the MEP coordination process and identifying constructability opportunities based on existing conditions.

The enhanced Shawn Walsh Hockey Center will include new state-of-the-art locker rooms for the women’s and men’s ice hockey programs, a player development center with state-of-the-art sports medicine and strength and conditioning spaces as well as a 42-seat film room, new and renovated offices for coaches and support staff, and expanded lounges and equipment rooms. The Harold Alfond Sports Arena will undergo upgrades to enhance the student-athlete and fan experience inside the historic building. Work includes a new entryway complete with an expanded concourse area with dedicated ticket and concession sales spaces, the UMaine Hockey Hall of Fame and the team store.

In total, the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Harold Alfond Sports Arena will undergo 31,000 square feet of renovations and 21,000 square feet of additions. This multi-phased project will further UMaine’s commitment to excellence in the state’s only Division I athletics program, strengthen gender equity, and provide a preferred destination for high school sports championships, competitions and community events.

Many of our team members are UMaine alum and are looking forward to helping UMaine further their commitment to excellence in Division I athletics. Go Blue!

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Continued engagement within the construction industry is valuable to the growth of PC and the entire construction community, and this event did not disappoint. Facilitated networking allowed our group to hear different perspectives on topics such as opportunities for continued education, impacts of mentorship and current/upcoming trends in the construction industry.

On the heels of Governor Janet Mills recent executive order regarding Women in Construction, this event promoted stimulating conversation and presentations from engineers, coaching leaders and business owners, all with an overarching theme in mind – to attract and retain women in construction. The State of Maine is experiencing an increased demand for construction work in order to rebuild and expand public and commercial infrastructure and there is no doubt a workforce shortage. This executive order aims to improve access to rewarding careers for historically underrepresented groups, achieve a more robust labor force participation and eliminate the gender wage gap for Maine women working in the construction industry.

It was great to see so many talented women discussing the future of construction. We are already looking forward to the next Bernstein Shur Women in Construction event and everything to come in the year ahead!

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A vast variety of topics were discussed, such as the future of generative AI, male allyship, diversity initiatives, boosting credentials and breaking barriers. In particular, one topic that stood out was a moderated panel discussion on the concept of mentorship versus sponsorship and the ties between male allyship. We are finding that women have mentors but are lacking sponsors. While mentorship provides advice and preparation, sponsorship provides much needed exposure and opportunity for women to advance. Having a male ally step up and sponsor women is crucial to the advancement of women in the construction industry. In a survey of 770 women in the construction industry conducted by Ambition Theory and ECCER, it was found that 88% of women want to be in a leadership role, yet 72% of women had never had a woman supervisor. Seeing women in leadership roles creates a sense of belonging and helps build a confident mindset.

In another panel, three senior male leaders discussed their experiences acting as catalysts to advance women in construction. This discussion involved pay equity analysis within their companies, general awareness of needs of women on a construction site, and deliberately building policies to attract and retain a diverse workforce. There were certainly some key takeaways on how allyship makes workplaces more satisfying and companies more successful.

Over the next few months, the lessons learned and knowledge gained at this conference will be shared at PC Construction to further our work to strengthen successes for women in construction and continue to build a diverse and authentic workforce.

Source:
Building Better: A Women in Construction Study
Ambition Theory / ECCER 2023

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It was an honor to listen to a presentation from GSFB’s new president, Heather Paquette, and to discuss how our unique skills in the construction industry can help the organization on other levels.

The GSFB is a non-profit organization serving our community to help fight food insecurity throughout the State of Maine. Founded in 1981, their mission is to help eliminate hunger by providing access to nutritious and culturally relevant food for people in need, building strong community partnerships, and mobilizing the public in the fight to end hunger.

If you are experiencing food insecurity in Maine, visit www.gsfb.org and click ‘Find Food’.

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PC, along with two other New England CM firms, were assigned multiple student-led teams. They were each issued an RFP for a recently completed real-world project. The teams evaluated the RFP and submitted a formal proposal to PC meeting all requirements, including a cover letter, bid form, resumes, schedule and safety plan. Upon submitting their final proposals and video presentations, the teams then presented a bid pitch, which was ultimately scored and awarded by the PC team.

This competition introduces students to actual construction practices and provides hands-on exposure to the teamwork required to produce and present accurate proposals that meet an owner’s goals. For PC, we love the engagement with up-and-coming industry professionals and the opportunity to educate students on upcoming internship opportunities. The event really provides an all-around great experience for both the students and PC team members.

This year, PC had the honor of awarding ‘Ted Construction’ the winning trophy for their hard work and first place finish. On behalf of PC, congratulations to all students who took part in this year’s Construction Industry Day competition!

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The two connected facilities, which are centered on a one-acre green quad, include the 218,000-square-foot, eight-story Portland Commons student residence hall and the 42,000-square-foot, five-story McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success. Portland commons – the first-ever residence hall on the Portland campus – features 580 beds with a mix of single-occupancy rooms, studios and multi-bedroom apartments. The McGoldrick Center offers a career and employment hub, meeting rooms, study spaces and amenities including a dining common, coffee shop and pub.

One of the most exciting parts of this project is its extensive sustainability focus. Portland Commons, with its superior insulation and efficient building design, is the second-largest Passive House building at a university in the United States. The McGoldrick Center, with its large-scale 33.3-kW rooftop photovoltaic array and passive solar heating, along with a beautiful mass timber component comprising of 40% of the building, is pending LEED Gold certification.

Not only is this project a huge milestone for The University of Southern Maine, it’s also a project that is near and dear to the project team. Many of us have lived and worked around the Portland area our entire lives, so witnessing this historic transformation right in the center of campus is truly spectacular. We couldn’t be happier for future students and staff to excel in their new state-of-the art space, while also remembering the extensive efforts from not only PC Construction, but the design team and trade partners. Congratulations to the entire team and all entities involved over the last four years to make this project a success!

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