PMEngineer March 2011 : Page 4

publisher’s note Vivid Memories of 10 Years Ago Translate Into Positive Actions S oon after the new year began, the thought occurred to me that 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. On one hand, this came as no surprise to me. The older I get, the faster the years speed by. On the other, I’m amazed that almost a decade has passed since Sept. 11, 2001. Perhaps the rea-son I feel this way is because the memories of that date and the days immediately after it are still so vivid. Even now, people I meet can recall exactly where they were that day and what they were doing. Indeed, as the bumper stickers stated at the time, we will never forget. So, while we may not need another reminder, the subject of pme’s cover story this month demonstrates how our world has changed in the last 10 years. The Center for Medical Science in Albany, N.Y., today has a laboratory with a bio-safety lev-el allowing scientists to research toxins and other contagious materials that could be used in future terrorist attacks. In this lab and other BSL-3 labs, researchers working in a gas-tight enclosed facil-ity conduct experiments on airborne agents with potential to cause lethal infection. What needs to be underscored is that this crit-ical research would not be possible without the expertise of engineers who designed the lab’s New York's Grand Central Terminal. plumbing and mechanical systems. Working with industry manufacturers and installing contractors, engineers designed systems that ensure deadly toxins do not harm the researchers or other ten-ants in the building through air or water. Another case study in this month’s pme describes construction work currently ongoing at Grand Central Terminal in midtown Manhattan. Yes, busy Grand Central Station—as it’s commonly known—will get even busier when workers com-plete the addition of eight more tracks and four more platforms on the 47-acre site. That project will conclude in 2016. A smaller $21 million renovation project slated for completion this August features new quar-ters for conductors and engineers, and public tennis courts in the terminal’s annex. Our case study takes a look at how the latest 3-D BIM software aided the entire construction team in the design and coordination process and derailed potential MEP clashes with the annex renovation. By the time the Grand Central project is fin-ished, new buildings and a transportation hub will occupy the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan. I can assure you the city’s new and expanded train stations will see just as many people arriving in New York as departing. My first plane ride following the 2001 terrorist attacks was six weeks later into New York City. The fact I was there on a business trip showed how ready New Yorkers were to get back to work. I didn’t visit Ground Zero on the trip, partly due to the security there and also my schedule. Still, I saw tributes to the city’s rescue workers and victims of the attacks everywhere I went. Last March, I finally had the opportunity to visit the World Trade Center site in the company of plumbing contractors whose company is installing piping in one of the new buildings. While security remained extremely tight, the level of activity on the jobsite rivaled Grand Central Station. As we commemorate in 2011 the tragic events of 10 years ago, let’s also remember the positive contributions our industry makes to building our country and keeping it prepared. Publishing/Editorial and Advertising/Sales Staff Group Publisher Bob Miodonski 847-405-4007 miodonskib@bnpmedia.com Hydronics Editor John Siegenthaler, P.E. 315-865-8903 siggy@dreamscape.com Senior Editor Mike Miazga 847-405-4056 Fax 248-502-9001 miazgom@bnpmedia.com Plumbing Group Online Editor Suzette Rubio 630-962-0086 rubios@bnpmedia.com Codes Editor Julius Ballanco, P.E., CPD, F-ASPE 847-405-4000 jbengineer@aol.com Fire Protection Editor Christine Swanson, P.E., FPE, CFPS 757-213-6059 c.swanson@ha-inc.com IL, IN, W. MI, Southeast, and Eastern Canada Jean Eslick 773-710-9971, DF: 248-786-1386 eslickj@bnpmedia.com Classifieds & Reprints Debora Reda 630-962-0095, DF: 248-786-1382 redad@bnpmedia.com Consulting Editor Jim Olsztynski 847-405-4006 Fax 248-502-1007 wrdwzrd@aol.com Art Director Stephanie Armstrong 919-449-0676 armstrongs@bnpmedia.com Display Sales Assistant Beth Shor 847-405-4067, Fax: 248-502-1028 shorb@bnpmedia.com Production Manager Lisa Rahimpour 248-620-4180 Fax 248-244-3910 rahimpourl@bnpmedia.com Circulation and BNP Media Staff For subscription information or service, please contact Customer Service at: Tel. (847) 763-9534 or Fax (847) 763-9538 or e-mail PME@halldata.com Audience Development Coordinator Megan Masson List Rental POSTAL: List Manager Robert Liska 800-223-2194, ext. 726 robert.liska@eraepd.com EMAIL: Account Manager Shawn Kingston 800-409-4443, ext 828 shawn.kingston@eraepd.com Northeast George Zebrowski 413-684-1447, DF: 248-502-2119 zebrowskig@bnpmedia.com Southwest, Mid Central, WI Paul DeGrandis 847-920-9510, Fax: 847-920-9206 pauld@accelmediasolutions.com West Coast Scott Franz 937-748-9975, DF: 248-502-2083 franzs@bnpmedia.com Mid-Atlantic Roy Wagner, Jr. 401-737-7871, Fax: 401-738-0086 jrrl19@aol.com Corporate Directors Publishing Timothy A. Fausch John R. Schrei Corporate Strategy Rita M. Foumia Production Vincent M. Miconi Finance Lisa L. Paulus Creative Michael T. Powell Marketing Ariane Claire Directories Nikki Smith Human Resources Marlene J. Witthoft Conferences & Events Emily Patten Clear Seas Research Beth A. Surowiec pme -PM Engineer (ISSN 1080-353X) is published 12 times annually, monthly, by BNP Media, 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084-3333. Telephone: (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317. No charge for subscriptions to qualiﬁ ed individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualiﬁ ed individuals in the U.S.A.: $115.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualiﬁ ed individuals in Canada: $149.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $165.00 (int’l mail) payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2011, by BNP Media. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations. Periodicals Postage Paid at Troy, MI and at additional mailing ofﬁ ces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: PM ENGINEER, P.O. Box 2145, Skokie, IL 60076. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. GST account: 131263923. Send returns (Canada) to Pitney Bowes, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to PM ENGINEER, P.O. Box 2145, Skokie, IL 60076. 4 03.11 BNP Media Helps People Succeed in Business with Superior Information Photo courtesy of The Berman Group

Publisher’s Note: Bob Miodonski

Vivid Memories of 10 Years Ago Translate Into Positive Actions Soon after the new year began, the thought occurred to me that 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. On one hand, this came as no surprise to me.The older I get, the faster the years speed by. On the other, I’m amazed that almost a decade has passed since Sept. 11, 2001. Perhaps the reason I feel this way is because the memories of that date and the days immediately after it are still so vivid. Even now, people I meet can recall exactly where they were that day and what they were doing. Indeed, as the bumper stickers stated at the time, we will never forget. So, while we may not need another reminder, the subject of pme’s cover story this month demonstrates how our world has changed in the last 10 years. The Center for Medical Science in Albany,N. Y., today has a laboratory with a bio-safety level allowing scientists to research toxins and other contagious materials that could be used in future terrorist attacks. In this lab and other BSL-3 labs, researchers working in a gas-tight enclosed facility conduct experiments on airborne agents with potential to cause lethal infection. What needs to be underscored is that this critical research would not be possible without the expertise of engineers who designed the lab’s Plumbing and mechanical systems. Working with industry manufacturers and installing contractors, engineers designed systems that ensure deadly toxins do not harm the researchers or other tenants in the building through air or water. Another case study in this month’s pme describes construction work currently ongoing at Grand Central Terminal in midtown Manhattan.Yes, busy Grand Central Station—as it’s commonly known—will get even busier when workers complete the addition of eight more tracks and four more platforms on the 47-acre site. That project will conclude in 2016. A smaller $21 million renovation project slated for completion this August features new quarters for conductors and engineers, and public tennis courts in the terminal’s annex. Our case study takes a look at how the latest 3-D BIM Software aided the entire construction team in the design and coordination process and derailed potential MEP clashes with the annex renovation. By the time the Grand Central project is finished, new buildings and a transportation hub will occupy the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan. I can assure you the city’s new and expanded train stations will see just as many people arriving in New York as departing. My first plane ride following the 2001 terrorist attacks was six weeks later into New York City.The fact I was there on a business trip showed how ready New Yorkers were to get back to work. I didn’t visit Ground Zero on the trip, partly due to the security there and also my schedule.Still, I saw tributes to the city’s rescue workers and victims of the attacks everywhere I went. Last March, I finally had the opportunity to visit the World Trade Center site in the company of plumbing contractors whose company is installing piping in one of the new buildings. While security remained extremely tight, the level of activity on the jobsite rivaled Grand Central Station. As we commemorate in 2011 the tragic events of 10 years ago, let’s also remember the positive contributions our industry makes to building our country and keeping it prepared.

Previous Page Next Page

Publication List
Using a screen reader? Click Here