#bacpracticeconnex2023

Ellie W.

Day 1 at DCAMM, we started off by meeting our DCAMM representatives, Brenna, Dyana, and Liz who gave us a presentation on what DCAMM does. It was very informative! It was interesting to understand just how big the scope of DCAMM’s projects were and to learn about how DCAMM manages projects that involve multiple departments or secretariats in state government as well as private design and construction firms.

We also took a tour of the Massachusetts State House (which is one of DCAMM’s projects) and learned about the challenges of maintaining such a historic building.

Then we met with the Energy Team where we learned about their goals for NetZero or 95% decarbonized by 2050-- a difficult but necessary goal. Under the OFMM, they work with nearly every team in the office to ensure that sustainability goals are being kept. Theyre working on many capital projects but also are working on central plants, energy intelligence and optimization and the electrical grid program. They are over seeing the huge project of transitioning back to electric where many buildings found electric, for heating for example, to be too expensive in the past. Overall they were clear that as designers it is our responsibility to design with the end in mind-- meaning it's essential to consider the net energy use of a building far past construction.

Finally, after lunch and some extra time to prepare a presentation, we met with the NSO group that came to visit DCAMM! We walked around the office for a tour, pointing out state buildings DCAMM has been involved with from the windows of the 15th floor. Then we were on; us four interns gave a brief presentation about our week so far at DCAMM and pointed out the highlights of our time in the office and on site.