Walsh Bros., DCAM and NSCC break ground on $32 million academic facility

Shown (from left) are: Wayne Burton president of North Shore Community College; Peter Schaffer; principal of Dimella Schaffer; Peter Fourtounis project architect for Dimella Schaffer; Richard Walsh, president and CEO of Walsh Brothers; and Wayne Marquis

Danvers, MA Representatives from the Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM), state representative, Ted Speliotis, president of North Shore Community College (NSCC), Wayne Burton, Dimella Shaffer, and Walsh Brothers, Inc. celebrated breaking ground on the new $32 million allied health sciences academic facility. This 58,700 s/f academic building project, designed by DiMella Shaffer, will be the first major step towards building the state's first zero-net energy facility.

The 3-story general academic allied health science building will house nursing education, occupational therapy classrooms, animal grooming classrooms, a student computer laboratory, student support spaces, and health science teaching labs. The exterior enclosure will consist of an aluminum curtain wall system and contrasting masonry with punched wall window openings, and an aluminum glass store front system at entrances and windows. Other features of the allied health sciences building include a lead lined x-ray equipment room, special acoustical treatments, roof-mounted photovoltaics, and high-efficiency mechanical and electrical systems. The parking capacity will be increased by 140 spaces.

To reach a zero-net energy goal, Walsh Bros. formulated a plan to install different sized photovoltaic solar panels in a large parabolic curved panel. In addition, Walsh Bros. will be charged with installing fifty 500-foot geothermal wells on-site which will allow for the use of natural resources to provide heating and cooling to the building.

NSCC president Wayne Burton said, "We come together to witness the laying of the cornerstone of a new economic era based on the principles of sustainability and environmental stewardship."