#catherineh.

So thankful I was paired with fellow BAC student Baha! We had a great week at Winn with Angela and Martin. We discussed what we were learning and compared our current experiences at the BAC. It was nice to have someone also relatively new to design and the BAC. Looking forward to having future classes with Baha and seeing him around campus!

The two highlights of the final day was Angela had scheduled two presentations by her contacts in related fields. We heard from Catherine McCandless, Climate Change and Environmental Planning Project Manager for the City of Boston, about the past, current, and future planning to counteract the effects of climate change.

Later we heard from Austin Gregory, Chief of Operations and Engineering at Backyard ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit). He gave us insight into the benefits and possibilities possible from ADUs and how they are part of the housing crisis solution.

Today was especially cool because we got to visit the active construction site of an historic mill in Lawrence that’s being converted into an all electric mixed income apartment complex.

Being on site the office was now located in the trailer outfitted with the tools available to still complete video meetings. Also present was coffee and donuts from Dunkin’ brought by our supervisor Angela who said “No construction site in New England is complete without Dunkin”.

Throughout the week I’ve been able to watch a variety of different parties working together, in person and via remote meetings, toward a common goal. The people at Winn and other partnering companies all present themselves in a very professional and knowledgeable manner which is something I admire. The office atmosphere is comfortable amidst the busy schedules and multiple current projects and many moving parts. I’ve enjoyed being able to see the Boston office and the Braintree location as well as seeing the active site workplace atmosphere.

Today was spent back at the Boston office with Angela where we attended 5 Teams Meetings throughout the day. The parti diagram above depicts the main concept I observed from the Swampscott plans. We didn't get a chance to talk directly with the architect from TAT to ask the main ideas behind the design. Noticing the small site space in relation to the number of units that everyone wanted I figured a main driving force for the design would be to best utilize the space on the first floor.

Overall, the meetings we were lucky enough to sit in on were focused on 5 of Winns current projects. The Stone Mill meeting went over monthly requisitions, and the Swampscott discussed the twin deal with split finances. The Salem meeting with Martin went over the timeline of architectural drawings and building permits as well as the MBTA involvement. A meeting was held with the architects from TAT about a nearly completed site in MA that needed some finalizing decisions. Finally, the Braintree meeting went over the new 10th edition building code and fireproofing specs.

Today was spent at the Braintree office with our other supervisor Martin, Director of Construction, attending some team’s meetings to check in on current projects and their progress. I learned about an affordable housing complex now owned by Winn in New York that will soon undergo a live-in renovation. The Pines of Perinton Apartments are considered a historical site because it was constructed in 1972 by the New York architects Gwathmey Siegal and Associates. I learned more about the benefits and also restrictions that a historical label can have on a project.

Some of the team meetings I got to attend were about construction permits, guidelines to follow by MBTA when constructing near their property train tracks, and the creation of a uniform guide of apartment specifications such as appliances for the different categories of housing.

We ended the day by visiting a newly acquired site nearby that use to be the local power complex but will soon be demolished so Winn can construct mixed income apartments. We met an environmental technician there so he could review the previously inspected buildings for asbestos and lead.

My BAC buddy Baha and I were “testing” the waters at WinnCompanies today with a variety of events! Our day was busy with two property visits and time in the office getting to know the ins and outs of what our supervisor Angela, a Senior Project Manager, does at the company. We first went to an affordable senior housing property in Charlestown that Winn manages and got to watch the environmental technicians test some empty units for radon, asbestos, and lead as part of a pre-renovation step. We then went to a co-op apartment complex in Charlestown that Winn manages that is a tenant-run community and thriving. Overall, I learned about the wide variety of services that Winn provides and how complex the affordable housing process can be. It was a very eye-opening day but I’m eager to head back next week to experience more!