National Public Radio recently ran this cool story about using Virtual Reality to help train nuclear inspectors. The high degree of detail that is now possible in computer generated animation makes it possible for the nuclear inspectors to practice facility management without the dangerous repercussions of making mistakes in the field.

The article reminded Tocci of a Virtual Room setup that we recently tested. As you know we model our buildings digitally before we build them, and it is amazing how much visualization comes out of these models, but it is even more profound to actually walk through these virtual buildings in real space and size. A few weeks ago, our entire company was able to walk through and annotate in this virtual world.

John Tocci exploring a Virtual Room and annotating with a special pen.

The possible applications of this technology are endless. Imagine, owners being able to walk through their high rise office buildings and decide which lobby options make the most sense. Or potentials buyers walking through condo units to choose which cabinets and carpets they wanted; or doctors and nurses walking through a new hospital wing and commenting on the efficiency of nursing stations being in different locations.  All before the building permits are issued. What a wonderful world.

This month Tocci is proud to announce an exciting project: a $107.9m General Services Administration (GSA) Design-Build contract, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to execute the modernization of the Peter W. Rodino Federal Building in Newark, NJ. Tocci has formed a joint venture with L.F. Driscoll of Bala Cynwyd, PA to deliver this project.

See the full issue here!

We have some pretty exciting news! Tocci, and our joint venture partner L.F. Driscoll, were just awarded a $107.9m General Services Administration (GSA) Design-Build contract, to execute the modernization of the Peter W. Rodino Federal Building in Newark, NJ. See the official press release with all the details below.

Tocci/Driscoll Awarded GSA Design-Build Contract for Peter W. Rodino Federal Building Modernization

April 19, 2010, Bala Cynwyd, PA and Woburn, MA—Tocci/Driscoll, a Joint Venture has been awarded the $107.9m General Services Administration (GSA) Design-Build contract, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to execute the modernization of the Peter W. Rodino Federal Building in Newark, NJ. Tocci/Driscoll is a partnership of construction management firms Tocci Building Corporation, Woburn, MA and L.F. Driscoll, Co., LLC, Bala Cynwyd, PA. Tocci/Driscoll will oversee an extensive scope of structural, operational and aesthetic restoration, enhancement and upgrade work on the downtown structure and home to regional offices of several U.S. government agencies. Tocci/Driscoll has engaged KlingStubbins, Cambridge, MA and Philadelphia, PA, as architect of record for the program designed by Dattner Architects, NY, NY.

The Peter W. Rodino Federal Building, named after Newark native and 40-year member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1949 – 1989), is a 16-story, 467,000 square foot precast concrete building constructed in 1968. Previous renovations have provided an upgrade to the HVAC system and some interior improvements on several floors.  The 2010 – 2014 improvement program incorporates the gut rehab, including asbestos abatement, of the remaining nine floors of office space and major overhaul of the MEP system. In addition to the interior work, the exterior façade will undergo full restoration and repair at all elevations followed by installation of a glass curtainwall overclad. The curtainwall will imbue the aging building with a striking new aesthetic that enhances the Newark cityscape. Combined, the MEP and facade improvements are designed to achieve a targeted LEED® Silver certification. Completion will represent the largest LEED® certified renovation undertaken to date by the GSA, the nation’s landlord.

The Tocci/Driscoll and KlingStubbins team will employ advanced Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) technologies in the planning and execution of the project. The project will represent the GSA’s strongest foray into the use of 3D, 4D and 5D technologies as a means of markedly improving building quality, cost and schedule, and streamlining the overall process of delivering new or renovated buildings into service for the U.S. Government.

L.F. Driscoll Co, LLC
L.F. Driscoll Co, LLC, Bala Cynwyd, PA, a member of the Structure Tone family of independent companies, is the largest locally-based construction manager in the Philadelphia region. The firm has served New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland since 1929 providing Construction Management-at-Risk, Agency Construction Management, Design-Build and General Construction. L.F. Driscoll is ranked by Engineering-News Record as one of the Nation’s top Construction Managers-At-Risk.

GSA
Founded in 1949, GSA manages more than 11 percent of the government’s total procurement dollars and $24 billion in federal assets, including 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 213,000 vehicles.

GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 480 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services.

GSA’s mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and E-Gov travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions.

To transform federal buildings into higher performing, greener buildings, GSA has awarded construction projects to more than 500 companies creating jobs in all 50 states, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia by investing $4 billion in Recovery Act funds.

Last week during our architectural training we finished off 19^th century industrialization, by way of pre-modern visionaries such as Henri Labrouste, Joseph Paxton, Gustave Eiffel, and Louis Sullivan. We learned that as 19^th century architects struggled to define their field in light of new technologies, new market forces and new building problems, audacious new designers emerged from engineering to address the age.

We explored this exciting period by moving back and forth between new technologies (such as iron), new building types (such as factories, green houses, iron bridges, etc) and the groundbreaking buildings that followed (Labrouste’s Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paxton’s Crystal Palace, and Eiffel’s Tower).

The night ended with a look at the prolific work of the Chicago School. We saw how ideas originating in the office of William Le Baron Jenney were developed further by his protégés:  Daniel Burnham, William Hollabird, Martin Roche and Louis Sullivan. In particular, we focused on Sullivan’s immense influence on Modern architecture evidenced by the pervasiveness of aphorisms like, “less is more,” and, “form [ever] follows function.” We concluded with a series of 20^th through 21^st century buildings clearly inspired by the gridded façade of Sullivan’s Carson, Pirie and Scott Department Store.

Last week Laura Handler, our Director of Virtual Design and Construction,  joined Luciana Burdi a Project Manager at DCAM in teaching for a day at the Associated Schools of Construction 46th Annual International Conference.  The program was divided into two sessions:

Session 1: BIM, Project Planning and Coordination

A discussion of concepts and potential use cases for BIM, pulling from specific industry and academic projects. Special attention was given to BIM Execution Planning, as it provides a good framework for teaching BIM and including academia in the development of BIM practice. The discussion also included skillsets Construction Management students will need upon graduation for working in the industry, both while its under the current transformations and after.

Session 2: Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)

The basic concepts of IPD were outlined and then discussed within the context of both public and private approaches to implementation of this  new contract form and process. Special attention was paid to the use of BIM in IPD.