James Liston, Columbia Construction Co.

North Reading, MA James Liston, PE, LEED AP, has joined Columbia Construction Co. as director of MEP services. Working across the firm’s six market sectors, which include academic, corporate, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, and life sciences, Liston’s primary role will be to thoroughly evaluate all project specifications and plans, focusing on overall building systems and how they relate to and influence the constructability and logistical components of a project.

He will add a tremendous amount of value to a project upfront, working with the preconstruction team to analyze details, challenge assumptions, and provide the most accurate data and cost information needed to make critical decisions early in the construction process.

Liston has an extensive background in building systems and will work in tandem with the firm’s estimators, project managers and superintendents to help guide Columbia Construction’s continued commitment to construction quality and client service. Liston’s heavy involvement in the early stages of a project, where he will assist with equipment procurement, subcontractor awards and coordination of the MEP systems, will benefit the entire project team and provide an efficient project work flow to assure completeness and accuracy to contract documents and owner requirements. 

Liston has over 35 years of experience managing and directing the engineering and installation effort for construction projects spanning various market sectors. As a registered Professional Engineer and LEED Accredited Professional, he takes his vast knowledge base to each project he works on, collaboratively working with all team members while providing engineering support and oversight.

Columbia’s vice president of operations Andrew Townshend said, “We have learned that success on a project begins early on during the preconstruction process. Though this is already Columbia’s unique differentiator in the industry, with the addition of Jim, we will add another layer to this vital service provided to our clients.”

Liston is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is an active participant in many professional organizations, including the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) where he is on the Board of Governors for the Boston Chapter. Prior to joining Columbia, Liston worked for BuroHappold Engineering and Suffolk Construction as an associate mechanical principal and senior engineering manager.