Tag: Education & Athletics

Beyond the Boiler Room: Two Big Takeaways from SCUP North Atlantic 

There’s a shift happening in how higher education talks about sustainability. The “why” is largely settled. The sessions that drew the most energy at SCUP North Atlantic in Hartford this spring were the ones deep in the “how”: how you finance it, how you plan for it across decades, how you design for it in ways that also serve students and…

Athletic Field Design: The 7 Most Frequently Asked Questions From Higher Ed Leaders

When a college or university considers a new or upgraded athletic field, it’s about more than grass and goalposts. These projects are complex undertakings that have to balance performance, budget, and long-term sustainability. At our firm, we’ve guided countless higher education clients through this process, and a few core questions always rise to the top….

Bridging the Data Gap: How Custom Tools Transform A/E Design

Architecture and engineering are changing. The demand for high-quality design is still strong, but clients facing increasingly complex projects expect more. A well-structured BIM (Building Information Model) file used to produce 2D drawings is no longer enough, and the I in BIM – information – is not always complete or accessible. At the same time,…

The D3 Roster Dilemma and How Facilities Are Adapting

In the world of collegiate athletics, NCAA Division III (D3) schools often stand out for their commitment to balancing the academic and athletic needs of their student-athletes. But there’s another unique and often overlooked challenge these institutions face: roster size. With no cap on team sizes, D3 rosters often swell far beyond their Division I…

5 Steps to Campus Electrification: A Strategic Engineering Perspective

Campus electrification isn’t just a trend, it’s an essential part of the path toward decarbonization, climate resilience, and operational sustainability. But make no mistake: beneficial electrification is a long game. It requires vision, strategy, and a willingness to take measured steps today to ensure a more sustainable tomorrow. As institutions face aging infrastructure, growing demands…

Mass Timber “Revolution” – SMRT Featured in MaineBiz

Ellen Belknap, President of SMRT Architect and Engineers spoke at last month’s Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine (E2Tech) event about the potential future of producing mass timber and cross-laminated timber in Maine. “When we have mass timber available to us locally, it will be a game-changer,” she said. Belknap’s discussion centered on how to…