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Archive for the ‘Frederick Ward’ Category
« Older Entries Newer Entries »Frederick Ward Associates Focuses on Sustainability at Energy-From-Waste Talk
Monday, October 18th, 2010
A few of us from Frederick Ward Associates attended a recent Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Chesapeake Post meeting September 16th, where Richard Hergenroeder, Director of Environmental Science of Covanta Energy, presented a very interesting talk on “Green Remediation and Energy from Waste”.
Hergenroeder indicated that Energy-from-Waste facilities are “green” because they reduce municipal landfill burdens posed by disposal of non-hazardous waste. Waste-to-energy facilities also provide an alternative to onsite landfill construction, procure a long-term source of renewable energy, and decrease export of waste from communities with little or no landfill capacity to other facilities.
During his presentation, Hergenroder highlighted that the U.S. EPA has stated, “Energy-from-Waste produces electricity with less environmental impact than almost any other source. After seeing a pictorial demonstration on how these facilities operate, it seems that they are a no-brainer and should continue to be the wave of the future as society continues to move towards becoming more greener in technology and practice.”
As an architecture firm that values sustainability, Frederick Ward Associates believes Harford County is very fortunate to have an Energy-from-Waste facility located on Magnolia Road in Joppa. The facility, which began operations in 1988, is owned by the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority and is operated by the Energy Recovery Operations, Inc. Designed by Consumat Systems LLC and constructed by Tyger Construction, the facility has a capacity of 360 tons per day of unprocessed solid waste. They process an average of 10,000 tons of waster per month which creates an average of 50,000 pounds of stream that is used by Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Learn more about what Frederick Ward Associates values.
jmettee
Frederick Ward, Sustainability
Frederick Ward Associates, Sustainability
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Frederick Ward Associates Provides Support For New Building Code Permits
Thursday, October 14th, 2010
Harford County Department of Inspections, Licenses & Permits (DILP) will be enforcing the Maryland Building Performance Standards COMAR 05.02.07. These new building codes (2009 International Building Code, 2009 International Residential Code and the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code as adopted by Maryland Building Performance Standards (MPBS) with no local amendments) were effective July 1, 2010.
In addition to the updates in regards to the various building codes, that took place on July 1, 2010, the 2009 International Existing Building Code will now replace the Maryland Rehabilitation Code, which was previously used for compliance of existing structures being renovated.
It should also be noted that when a commercial building permit application is submitted, it must now include signed and sealed architectural, structural and mechanical drawings. Plumbing and electrical permits will remain as separate permit reviews until further notice. In the event that a pre-engineering building will be utilized, signed and sealed structural drawings from the manufacturer must be included within the permit set along with signed and sealed foundation design documents.
As part of our standard architectural services, Frederick Ward Associates includes permit submission, tracking and retrieval (with the owner’s permission). FWA’s Architectural Department employs an IBC Certified Inspector for both Commercial and Residential projects. Frederick Ward Associates can provide full service permitting services for all municipalities within the State of Maryland and beyond.
TJasinski
Frederick Ward
Frederick Ward Associates
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Frederick Ward Associates Builds a “Cool Roof” at Local Elementary School
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
Last week, Frederick Ward Associates’ President, Craig A. Ward, and several members of the firms Architecture Department participated in a ribbon cutting that highlighted the new energy efficient roof on the Ring Factory Elementary School. The new roof is not only Energy Star rated by the U.S. Department of Energy, but it is also a “cool roof”. The Harford County Government and the Board of Education partnered in funding the new roof, which also received federal grants. The grant was received from the USDOE, funded through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
‘Cool roofs’ reflect solar radiation, reduce the heat conducted into buildings and directly reduce air-conditioning use. Frederick Ward Associates was the architecture firm selected to design the replacement of the school’s fiberglass asphalt shingled roof with a fully adhered 60 mil PVC roof with decorative PVC extrusions that emulates the look of a a standing seam metal roof.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Star website advises that solar reflectance is the most important characteristic of a roof product in terms of yielding the highest energy savings during warmer months. The higher the solar reflectance, the more efficient the product is in reflecting sunlight and heat away from the building and reducing roof temperature. Frederick Ward Associates’ sustainable roof design will contribute to increased energy cost savings at Ring Factory Elementary.
ESteere
Community, Frederick Ward, Sustainability
Community, Frederick Ward Associates, Sustainability
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Frederick Ward Associates Hosts Sustainability Seminars
Friday, September 17th, 2010
Note: The Sustainability Seminars have now been postponed until Spring 2011. Stay tuned – in the spring, we’ll have all the information about how to register for these classes.
Frederick Ward Associates will soon be hosting a series of Sustainability Seminars at Harford Community College. The first series of “green” seminars will take place September 30, with the informative events continuing through November 11.
The courses will cover the latest in green strategies, tax credits for green initiatives, green residential design, updates on Maryland storm water management regulations, and plenty more diverse topics that can help you incorporate sustainability into your business. Chuck Cooper, Kevin Small, and Gerry Powell, all knowledgeable members of the sustainable design community, will be presenting the four seminars. There are also plans for a second series of seminars that will run through Spring of 2011, featuring hands-on demonstrations such as how to build a rain garden, do’s and don’ts of composting, and use of rain barrels. Other topics will include green advocacy and community involvement, and renewable energy.
The events include opportunities for networking and a continental breakfast. It’s a perfect opportunity for development professionals, realtors, attorneys, environmental activists, bankers, builders, contractors and anyone interested in the future of energy efficient building. You can register for the series here.
CCooper
Community, Frederick Ward, Sustainability
Community, Frederick Ward Associates, Sustainability
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FWA President Dances For The Arts
Saturday, September 11th, 2010
This October, our community will be treated to some fine entertainment, courtesy of Frederick Ward Associates’ very own President, Craig A. Ward! You won’t want to miss Craig’s dancing debut at the Dancing For The Arts fundraiser on October 2nd.
This is the third year for the dance competition, which supports the Harford Center for the Arts. Craig has been practicing diligently with his professional dance partner and he hopes you’ll support his charitable endeavor by coming out to watch him compete with other community members, á la Dancing With The Stars. You can also make a contribution towards his fundraising goal on the Harford Center’s website.
Craig promises he’s actually getting pretty good at his routine, so come and support his hard work. Learn more about the event and the other dancers by visiting the Dancing for the Arts fundraiser.
DWatson
Community, Frederick Ward
Community, Frederick Ward Associates, fundraiser, Maryland
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Redevelopment is the Answer?
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
The development economy has been suffering for several years now and financial pundits are not yet predicting the real upturn. There have been a few upticks to tease us along the way, but the real resurgence of lending, building and buying has not started yet. Most of the current work in the marketplace is institutional or governmental, with a few user-specific private developments in the mix. With lending being held in the vised grip of post TARP institutions, prospectors and developers have to be more creative to find the most promising investment tools that provide good return on investment, and then they need to find the users that can finance the use of the building or development. A difficult task when there are so many empty spaces on the market. So where do we find the hottest opportunities? Maybe redevelopment is the answer.
Redevelopment Opportunities
Redevelopment requires certain ingredients from the start, such as an existing or former use and improvements, existing infrastructure, such as road and utilities, existing impervious surfaces and “engineered” drainage, and public perception of a previously disturbed natural space. These ingredients often occur in urbanized or industrial locations, where the economic climate changed at some time and left the space for greener pastures, or to new spaces that offer more efficient production. Perhaps the space is still used, but not efficiently, operating as a burden on the community by wasting energy and causing unnecessary impacts to the natural environment or the surrounding community. Perhaps the right redevelopment opportunity is an existing residential community that is suffering from deferred maintenance, and would be less expensive to replace than repair.
Additional Redevelopment Elements
In any case, the ingredients of redevelopment opportunities are typical elements of a new development plan that the developer would assume to have to pay for, design and construct. So right off the top, the project pro forma excludes some access and utility costs, offsite road construction, etc. For stormwater management in Maryland there are lighter rules for redevelopment too. Another important element of redevelopment opportunities is market and demographics. Typically urbanized areas have more market opportunity for retail because the dollars live there and will shop there, if given the available opportunity.
Another underrepresented ingredient could be the availability of transit or some form of public transportation that may already exist in the communities of and surrounding redevelopment sites. In a tight economy when people are saving money any way they can, the use of transit is strong and thus the opportunity for transit-oriented development (TOD) is a win-win for new development. TOD is a lightning rod concept in many urbanized areas to help spark investment in otherwise stagnant or failing economies. This is where there appears to have a good return on investment for lenders and end users.
The attached article from the Urban Land Institute is an interview of five real estate experts from around the country discussing the hottest redevelopment opportunities, as they see them. http://urbanland.uli.org/Articles/2010/SeptOct/Nyren1
ESteere
Frederick Ward, Infrastructure
Frederick Ward Associates, Planning, Redevelopment, Urban Land Institute
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Frederick Ward Volunteers for Habitat for Humanity
Friday, July 16th, 2010
This June, Frederick Ward Associates participated in a second Habitat for Humanity LEED home. FWA partnered with Harford Tech High School by providing Architectural, Civil Engineering and Surveying support for this “green” housing project.
Volunteering with Harford Habitat for Humanity is an excellent opportunity to combine the team’s passion for volunteering and helping the local community, with our expertise in architecture, engineering, planning and surveying.
This home was built for the Shanka family, and is located in Joppa, Maryland. FWA has also worked with Habitat as their LEED for Homes consultant, and this project is on track to achieve LEED Platinum status.
See Frederick Ward Associates’ involvement with Habitat. Visit Harford Habitat for Humanity to volunteer for upcoming projects, donate, or learn more about the organization.
CCooper
Community, Frederick Ward, Sustainability
Community, Frederick Ward Associates, Habitat for Humanity Harford County, Sustainable Living
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Maryland Green Registry
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
Building a smarter, greener, more sustainable Maryland is as easy as putting proactive environmental practices to work right in your own organization. The Maryland Green Registry is a voluntary, self-certification program offering tips and resources to help organizations set and meet their own goals on the path to sustainability. Being a member has its benefits.
Membership Benefits:
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- Maryland Green Registry window decal to display at your facility
- Use of the Maryland Green Registry logo
- The posting of your environmental profile, as approved by you, on the Maryland Green Registry website
- Free technical and informational assistance to help members implement environmental best practices
- Information about upcoming webinars and conferences
- Eligibility for annual Maryland Green Registry Leadership Awards.
The Green Registry and Frederick Ward Associates
Frederick Ward Associates was just formally accepted to the Registry. We are one of the first architecture and engineering firms in Maryland to join and are proud to be a part.
Visit the Frederick Ward Associates profile at The Green Registry.
CCooper
Community, Frederick Ward, Sustainability
Community, Frederick Ward, Maryland, Maryland Green Registry, Sustainability
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Bel Air Park Honors Frederick Ward
Friday, June 11th, 2010
Bel Air’s Armory Park, which formally opened this month, honors the late Frederick Y. Ward. The park will bear Frederick Ward’s name in tribute to the work he invested in the community. Over the years, Mr. Ward acquired and renovated a number of buildings on Main Street, helping keep Hardford County a vibrant place. A plaque is in place in the Park to commemorate his efforts.
Craig Ward, Fred’s son and now president of Frederick Ward Associates said, “I’m absolutely thrilled about it. They have known my father for a long time and knew of his influence in revitalizing Main Street.”
Frederick Ward Associates itself contributed a great deal to the Park. We donated the design services, along with construction help, to make the Park a special place. We are proud to carry Fred Ward’s legacy of investing in our community.
Read more about the Frederick Ward Park and insight on the Park’s landscape.
See pictures from the Frederick Ward Park dedication.
CWard
Community, Frederick Ward
Bel Air Armory Park, Community, Frederick Ward, Frederick Ward Associates
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Frederick Ward Associates Clean Up Plumtree Run
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
Here at Frederick Ward Associates, we believe in investing in our community, and have recently adopted a stream for clean up. On May 22, we walked the Plumtree Run streambed to remove accessible trash and debris, with the permission of all the landowners and with support from the Town of Bel Air Public Works.
Plumtree Run originates in downtown Bel Air and meanders through the community to Atkisson Reservoir in Harford Glen. We have adopted the segment between George Street and the Upper Chesapeake Medical Campus.
This is the first stream adoption in our area, which uses similar principles as the Adopt-a-Highway and SWAT programs for roadside cleanup. The Frederick Ward Associate Environmental and Sustainability teams have coordinated this effort.
ESteere
Community, Frederick Ward, Sustainability
Environmental and Sustainability teams, Frederick Ward, Plumtree Run
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