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Artists for Humanity EpiCenter Chosen as an AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Project

The Artists for Humanity EpiCenter Building was chosen as an AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Project for 2007. Artists For Humanity (AFH) was founded in 1991 with a mission to bridge economic, racial, and social divisions and provide underserved youth with the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in the arts. Its new urban headquarters, the EpiCenter, provides fine and commercial art studios and a 5000 ft2 (465 m2) gallery space used to show student art; the gallery is also rented out for events.

The EpiCenter is a simple, functional building that achieves the highest levels of sustainability on a tight budget. The building uses energy and water efficiently, incorporates recycled materials, makes full use of natural daylight, and promotes the health of its occupants. The EpiCenter also offers an opportunity to build public awareness of sustainable, economic, and environmental principles among the immediate community and beyond. This LEED Platinum certified building was designed by Arrowstreet, Inc. in Boston, MA and includes several notable green design aspects including:

A 49-kilowatt roof mounted, grid-connected photovoltaic array, currently the largest PV array in Boston, provides renewable energy for the building;

A super-efficient envelope, including operable, low-emissivity, high-performance windows, reduces heating and cooling loads;
Natural ventilation is used instead of air-conditioning;

South-facing windows provide passive-solar heat gain and daylighting;

Open, unobstructed interior spaces allow for effective daylighting;

Energy-efficient lighting is coupled with daylight dimming and automated controls;

The efficient mechanical system includes a heat-recovery system;

Many building materials were salvaged and reused;

Many building materials include high recycled content;

Rainwater is harvested and stored for landscape irrigation

For this project, OEST teamed with Northern Power Systems to provide a 49kW Turnkey power system . OEST provided a unique structural design for the photovoltaic (PV) panels which allowed the structural steel support system to be erected on the rooftop without any welding or cutting, which could have damaged the rubber roofing.

OEST collaborated with building contractor TR White to provide structural member sizes that were in stock. OEST and Northern Power Systems coordinated the connection of the PV panels to the structural steel frame to allow access to the panels from below and a bolting pattern that accounted for the thermal growth of the panels and the steel. The wind uplift forces, snow loads, and combinations thereof were all factors in the design.

Dedication at U.S. Embassy in Athens Held for OEST Project

Joana and Harvey OEST attended a dedication ceremony with the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Daniel Speckhard, for the recently completed “Stone and Water Garden” installation at the United States Embassy in Athens, Greece on January 17th, 2008.

World renowned sculptur, environmental artist and planner, Michael Singer, was asked to create a sculptural garden for the United States Embassy in Athens, Greece. OEST performed the engineering for this sculpture. In order to ensure the success of this unique project, OEST sent two engineers, Dan O'Wril, Structural Engineer and Todd Lackey, Mechanical Engineer, to Athens for a month to oversee and work on the installation.

OEST coordinated with State Department engineering management teams and Greek laborers to complete the design and installation. The sculpture’s materials and textures reference archaeological discoveries related to Greek culture. The sculpture also required cast in place reinforced concrete footings, natural Vermont granite, natural Grecian marble, plantings, a brook like water feature, and a full irrigation system that prevents algae growth.

Challenges included maximizing the use of recycled building materials, creating a foundation which would accept precisely cut stones on-site from Vermont and Greece, providing engineering documents which specified locally available materials, and an engineering design that ensured compatibility with the local building trades.

The Singer/OEST team has 9-year history and during this time OEST has provided foundations, structural steel support members, wood design, and the design of numerous other materials in support of Michael Singer’s art installations. Mr. Singer’s designs are shown worldwide and his environmental conservation efforts have affected thousands of people globally. The Singer/OEST team specifies and promotes the use of recycled building materials, minimizing travel distances for construction products and educating the public on environmental issues such as water conservation, storm water treatment and use of recycled building materials.

The project was funded by the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies whose mission is to show and preserve fine and decorative art in U.S. embassies and Ambassador’s residences by assisting the U.S. Department of State’s preservation programs. The “Stone and Water Garden” is now a part of FAPE’s An American Legacy collection.

OEST Helps Hurricane Katrina Victims With Design Project

Hurricane Katrina brought a 48 foot wave to Gulfport Mississippi on August 28, 2005. Since that time many relief efforts have been hard at work helping the residents rebuild their homes. The United Methodist Church Council operates one of the largest relief efforts in the Gulfport, MS area. On site coordinators match the various volunteers’ building skills with trained professionals and the available materials to keep the rebuilding operations efficient and enjoyable for the volunteers. Currently, both the volunteers and the building materials are stored at the various churches throughout the area. The Council is in the process of building warehouse/dormitories to house the volunteers and the building materials away from the churches. OEST employee Calen Colby, Building Services Manager and Structural Engineer, traveled to Gulfport twice, in December and January, to assist the UMCC in the engineering design and to obtain occupancy permits for the 10,000 square foot warehouse/dormitory building. OEST’s architectural and engineering staff is providing the design at cost. The UMC Council hopes to occupy the structure by the end of March 2008.

OEST’s involvement in this project highlights an on-going effort to offer aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In August of 2006, OEST was the local sponsor for a run with Sam Thompson. Sam is a Mississippi Native who achieved the monumental task of running 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states. Maine was his 33rd stop and eight OEST employees ran with Sam and his running partners for the entire 26.2 miles. OEST employees also drove two support vehicles which led the way through the course and provided much needed water and food. During a national CNN broadcast featuring Sam, OEST runners were featured completing the course with Sam. On August 19th, 2006, Sam completed the “50in50in50” run in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi.

OEST has seen tremendous growth over the past year. We are continuing to add personnel to many of our departments. Since August, the following individuals have joined our team

Ian Stebinger
Ian Stebinger of Portland has joined OEST as a Mechanical Engineer. Stebinger is a recent graduate of the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree.

Alissa McCulley
Alissa McCulley of Biddeford has joined OEST as an Architectural Designer. McCulley was previously an Assistant Project Manager at The Architectural Team, Inc. in Chelsea, Massachusetts and is a graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Architectural Engineering Technology.

Mary DiMatteo
Mary DiMatteo of Scarborough has joined OEST as a Receptionist. DiMatteo was previously an Office Administrator for Wright-Ryan Construction in Portland and brings over 10 years experience in office management.

Lisa Maxwell
Lisa Maxwell of Windham has joined OEST as an Electrical/Mechanical Designer/Drafter. Maxwell was previously a CAD Manager/Mechanical CAD Designer for SMRT, Inc. in Portland and brings 18 years of experience in CAD Design and management.

Emily Stadler
Emily Stadler of Portland has joined OEST as a Marketing Coordinator. Stadler was previously an Assistant Manager with EMG3 and Pierce Promotions and is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a B.A. in Communications.

Adam Greenlaw
Adam Greenlaw of Topsham has joined OEST as a Structural Engineer. Greenlaw was previously a Structural Engineer at Yoder & Tidwell, Ltd. in Providence, Rhode Island and is a graduate of the University of Maine with a B.S. in Civil Engineering.

Christopher McDonald
Christopher McDonald of Saco has joined OEST as a Senior Architectural Designer/CADD. McDonald was previously an Architectural Draftsman with CWS Architects in Portland and brings over 20 years of experience in Architectural Designing/Drafting.

Leigh Longobardi
Leigh Longobardi of South Portland has joined OEST as an Administrative Assistant. Longobardi was previously an Independent Administrative Consultant and brings over 10 years of experience in Office Management.

Timothy J. Michaud
Timothy J. Michaud of Freeport has joined OEST as a Civil Engineer. Michaud was previously a Project Engineer with Lyon Associates, Inc. in Honolulu, HI and brings over 15 years of experience in Civil Engineering.

Richard Yarnold
Richard Yarnold of Portland has joined OEST as an Airport Engineer. Yarnold was previously a Project Manager with Dufresne-Henry, Inc. in Portland and brings 30 years of civil engineering experience including airport planning, design, permitting, and construction.