The ribbon cutting at the MET school was well attended by students, teachers, and members of the local community. Rhode Island’s current senators, Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed, as well as the mayor of Newport, State Senate President Paiva-Weed, and a number of others all gave remarks. Diana Crowley and family attended as the building is named after her deceased husband, a State legislator from Newport who pushed for educational opportunities and policies throughout his career. Many of the remarks given concerned Paul Crowley’s legacy, as well as thanked Diana for her important role in bringing the project to fruition.

Following the ceremony, students from the MET gave tours, while others presented projects. The MET focuses on applied learning in which students work with real world projects and mentors. Educational access is another MET theme; the site is located adjacent to Newport Housing Authority buildings and helps transform the area for the local community. RGB is proud to have partnered with a great team in Gilbane, Stantec, LDD, and Odeh. Many thanks from us to the MET school building committee, to the Crowley family, and to Joe DaSilva and everyone at RIDE.

Press Coverage:

• Providence Journal January 14, 2014
• High Profile Blog January 30, 2014
• Newport Daily News January 27, 2014
• Building Statistics and Sustainable Design Features – Ribbon Cutting Handout

The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center and the Rhode Island Department of Education will hold a ribbon cutting and dedication on January 25.

We’re opening new doors for Rhode Island students.

RGB’s John Racine and Jeff Hatcher have served as Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) for this project in Mashpee, Massachusetts, working with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and observing construction of the design by RKB. As OPM, our staff have grown close to the Tribe over more than two years of partnership, and we are excited to see the project, which is a great step forward for the Tribal community, come to a successful finish. The $11 million government and community center replaces an existing facility and consolidates many of the Tribe’s departments and services.

RGB Interior Designer Kathryn Mancini earned her NCIDQ Certificate. Kathryn has been with RGB since 1982 as an interior designer. The NCIDQ certification corroborates her longstanding work experience and also clears her for work with clients, such as the US Navy, that sometimes require a certified designer.

The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency has sought a site for a new headquarters and emergency operations center. RGB and Schradergroup, a Pennsylvania-based firm that we teamed up with for the State Police Headquarters, delivered an analysis of several potential sites in this planning and feasibility study. Based on a review of space needs, the team generated schematic renderings and plans.

RGB and the State of Rhode Island have been working to get Phase II of the Rhode Island Fire Academy designed and ready for construction bids. As part the State of Rhode Island’s commitment to sustainability which is governed by the Rhode Island Green Buildings Act, the project will reference IgCC code.  Steven Winter Associates out of Norwalk, Connecticut is on the team to take part in building commissioning.

RGB and Gilbane Construction Company teamed up for this design/build collaboration with RIDE. The new school facility is under construction. The team’s design is targeting net zero site energy use, which will be a first for Rhode Island schools. This distinction is to be achieved through energy efficient design and photovoltaics.