Summit Principal Tony Coviello was interviewed this week for the Journal of Light Construction. In the article, Coviello discusses the insurance assessments Summit Engineering has been completing in New Jersey and Long Island for homes that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

At the time of the interview, Coviello had just returned from a three-day trip investigating flood claims on the south shore of Long Island. He shared some insights about how flooding has affected homes in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, and how coastal communities will have to adapt in the future.

Read the full article on JLC.com

The design team at McHenry Arctitecture in Portsmouth, including, from left, Jeremiah Johnson, Sarah Goupil, Brandon Holben, Kathy Jackson, Margaret Robidoux, Jeff Demers and owner Steven McHenry.

PORTSMOUTH — Employees of a small architectural firm in the city are feeling some Navy pride these days, and for good reason.

In the past several weeks alone, $91.8 million has been awarded for work on some of the most visible and historic buildings at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. And a small portion of that, as well as other work, is finding its way to McHenry Architecture on Market Street.

Among the projects undertaken by the firm is the design work for Building 178, a cavernous facility used to build subs in World War II that is getting some 21st-century upgrades; and Building 92, called by a Maine historic preservationist the second most historic industrial building in the state.   Read the story.

Summit Engineering is excited to announce we have been selected to provide structural engineering services for the renovation of The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel.   Planned additions total nearly 80,000 SF

The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel

and include a new conference center, pool house, spa, entry/check in and new suites off the Hampshire House.

Marsh Hall – Salem State University

Summit Engineering provided the structural design services for this 525-bed residence hall with dining and conference facilities. The structure features a 65-foot long 4-story bridge. In all, the steel framed building has 160,000-SF of space. Summit Engineering was teamed with Dimella Shaffer Architects.

Trusses being installed at Brentwood Fire Station

Summit Engineering recently performed construction observation on the installation of 90-foot clear span trusses at the new Brentwood Fire Station. The new fire station was designed by the team of Summit Engineering, Ricci Construction and TRH Architects. In addition to the building design, Summit Engineering prepared the erection plan for the unwieldy trusses.

The plan called for construction of ganged trusses at the ground level. This allowed for the work crew to install roof sheathing and all the necessary bracing at a comfortable working elevation. Once braced and sheathed, the trusses were lifted in groups, allowing for limited time working at height for the construction crew.

Trusses at this length are very unstable until all the bracing is installed. Typically, trusses are erected one at a time, bracing the new truss back to the first truss. Bracing is slowly removed as sheathing is added. This short period of bracing removal is avoided by sheathing the trusses prior to erection.

You can learn more about this project and other projects by contacting Summit Engineering at (603) 319-1817.

STRUCTURE Magazine is the premier trade magazine for Structural Engineers.

Tofu the Humpback Whale

The Seacoast Science Center’s newest exhibit, Tofu the Humpback Whale, was unveiled in June 2009. The exhibit consists of the 1,500-lb skeletal remains of a juvenile Humpback Whale hung from the center’s ceiling. The skeleton came from a well known Humpback Whale, named Tofu by marine biologists tracking her before her death – so named for her very white fluke (tail). Tofu was the likely victim of a ship strike, but will live on as an educational tool for both the young and old.

Summit Engineering volunteered the engineering analysis for the existing roof and the design of the whale support system.