2014 BCT Alumni & Friends Newsletter: Season’s Greetings!

2014 BCT Alumni & Friends Newsletter: Season’s Greetings!

A Message from the BCT Program Director As we conclude another successful semester in the BCT program, we are very proud to now have close to 200 undergraduate students and 10 graduate students including several PhDs. This year brought some changes to our program: With Dave Damery retiring (more on that below), I have taken over as program director. We also have a new faculty member, Dr. Ho-Sung Kim (see also below) and we will embark on a search for a replacement for Dave Damery soon. We are also very excited about a new building that will soon be our home - the “Integrated Design Building”. This state-of-the-art building will encompass many sustainable features (like an engineered wood structure) and will offer us better spaces for teaching, collaboration, labs, shops, and computer facilities. More on this below. If you haven’t done so yet, I would encourage you to join the new BCT student and alumni LinkedIn group. It is a great way to stay...
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Commencement 2014

Commencement 2014

We had the absolute pleasure to congratulate our graduating undergrad (BS) and grad (MS) students today and yesterday at UMass' commencement. Most but definitely not all of our undergrads are shown in the image above. Below are more impressions from these ceremonies. We are so proud of you all!!! All the best from us. ...
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BCT’s Damery Instrumental in Bringing $6M in Funding to UMass Amherst to Form New Energy Extension Initiative

As announced at yesterday's day-long workshop “Helping Communities with Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency”, BCT's faculty member David Damery was instrumental in bringing this important energy extension initiative to UMass. From the press release: AMHERST – Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rick Sullivan today announced a four-year, $6 million grant to form a new UMass Amherst Energy Extension Initiative. It will serve as a resource on renewable and clean energy options for cities and towns, industry, hospitals, colleges and universities, nonprofits and other organizations across the Commonwealth. “This investment shows the Patrick administration is committed to keeping Massachusetts a national clean energy leader,” said Secretary Sullivan. “The initiative will help municipalities as well as organizations across the Commonwealth cut their energy use, create jobs and protect the environment.” He made the announcement during a day-long workshop, “Helping Communities with Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency,” today on the UMass Amherst campus for city and town energy managers, mayors, other officials, businesses and planners. The...
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BCT faculty to host One Day Mass Energy Conference

On May 1st, 2014, the UMASS Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources is hosting the "One Day Mass Energy Conference" to help communities with renewable energy and energy efficiency. Participate in a one-day workshop connecting municipal and planning officials, community groups, and businesses. Explore the opportunities in green energy and a green economy. Interact and network with the workshop’s variety of attendees. For more information and to register visit: http://www.massenergyconf.org/...
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“Completing the BCT program has put me in a strong position to succeed in the construction industry”

We just received a note from a BCT Alumnus: Professor Damery, I want to thank you for running such a fantastic BCT program. Completing the program has put me in a strong position to succeed in the construction industry and I have been employed at A/Z Corporation in North Stonington, CT for the last two months. I was hired as Project Controls Associate and I frequently reference the skills and knowledge I acquired throughout four years in the BCT program. When I interviewed for the job, I was asked in depth about the courses I took at UMass and my interviewers were very impressed. They were especially impressed with the emphasis BCT put on sustainable building practices. I want to thank you again for the work you have done with the BCT program and wanted to let you know how well it prepared me for a job in the industry. Hope all is well. Regards, Mark Gabrielle Project Controls Associate A/Z Corporation Glad to hear that, Mark!...
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