THE CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE HOSTS ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM, ANNOUNCES AWARD RECIPIENTS

DORCHESTER – The Construction Institute recently hosted its annual awards program and announced the recipients for three awards: Project of the Year, Contractor of the Year and Volpe-Eagan Construction Safety Awards. 

The two recipients of the Project of the Year Award are Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Battleship USS Massachusetts. The Project of the Year Award is the only program of its kind that recognizes public and private projects built in Massachusetts using union contractors and workers that have had a positive impact on the construction industry, community and clients served.

The Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital was under the construction management of Walsh Brothers, Inc., of Boston, and it is owned by Spaulding Rehabilitation Network/Partners Healthcare. The USS Massachusetts, housed at the Battleship Cove Museum in Fall River, was repainted by apprentices of the Finishing Trades Institute of New England and Painters District Council #35, of Roslindale.

During their training, the painter apprentices lived aboard the Battleship USS Massachusetts, sleeping in canvas bunks and eating their meals in the officer’s wardroom. They transformed the rusty metal to its former shine, and were able to help the Battleship Cove’s small maintenance staff upkeep the condition of the ship, while having a training platform to apply their skills.

“It is just great to get help, plus they know what they are doing,” said Kenneth Preble, the man in charge of keeping the USS Massachusetts afloat. “They get training and we get work done. It is a great opportunity for all of us.”

This past April, the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital built a new facility on the site of the former Charlestown Navy Yard. The 262,000 square foot, nine-story hospital, replaced Spaulding’s 42-year-old facility on the Charles River in Boston. The new facility includes modifications designed to tailor to the needs of patients with various disabilities. Some modifications include lower counters at nurse stations for patients in wheelchairs, private rooms for each patient to accommodate visiting family members, an aquatic therapy center and an outdoor therapy garden.

“These two projects are exemplary in the construction industry,” said Mary Vogel, Executive Director of The Construction Institute. “They demonstrate the high levels of quality of construction, design innovations, positive impact on the community, safety achievements, labor-management relations and customer satisfaction. A job well done to those who worked on the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and the USS Massachusetts.”

This year’s recipient of the Contractors of the Year Award is T.J. McCartney, Inc. of Hollis, N.H., which is a commercial, union interior contractor serving the Greater Boston area. The company specializes in large-scale projects, including museums and office buildings, hospitals and high-tech laboratories, condominiums and hotels, and office fit-ups. A few recent examples of T.J. McCartney projects include Liberty Mutual Tower, Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, the Marriot Fenway, Pfizer, and a new library at Salem State College. Current projects include the Boston University Law School, NorthPoint in East Cambridge, Methuen High School, and the Bancroft Elementary School.

The Contractor of the Year Award is new to the awards program this year, and it recognizes a contractor that has provided outstanding service to the industry, their clients and the communities in which they work. Contractors of any size that are signatory to a collective bargaining agreement with one or more unions affiliated with the Massachusetts Building Trades Council that have operations in Massachusetts are eligible for this award.

“We are honored to receive this award,” said Tom Steeves, president of T.J. McCartney, Inc. “We strive to provide our clients with the best project managers, estimators and field personnel in the business, and we are thrilled that our service is meeting the high standards that we set for ourselves.” 

Led by Mary McCartney, CEO; Tom Steeves, President; and Dennis McDonnell, Vice President, T.J. McCartney employs 175- 250 union field personnel. The company is certified with the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance, as well as with the city of Boston as a women’s business enterprise.

A 43-year tradition, the Volpe-Eagan Construction Safety Award recognizes men and women for their dedication to safeguarding the lives and health of union construction workers. This year, it goes to Marty Henry, a member of UA Local 4, who is also a plumbing instructor at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough, and David Clegg, Jr., of TG Gallagher, a leading provider of mechanical construction and maintenance services throughout New England.

Marty joined UA Local 4 in 1985, where he later became an instructor for Local 4’s training program. In 1997, he implemented Local 4’s first Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) 10 and 30 hour training program for apprentices and journey workers, which he continues to this day. For the past 13 years, Marty has also served as a plumbing instructor at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, where he was instrumental in implementing OSHA 10 training for his students. Altogether, he has provided OSHA training to over 1,000 apprentices, journey workers and students. He also incorporates workplace safety and health in all of his skills training. Marty has been a role model for other apprentice and vocational instructors in all respects, and has initiated the first Vocational Teacher Educational Chapter of the Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Contractors in the nation.

“It is such an honor to receive this award,” said Marty. “The Volpe-Eagan Construction Safety Awards raise awareness about the importance of safety for union construction workers, and I am proud to have played a role in this.”

David oversees TG Gallagher’s safety practices and governs the company’s Safety and Health program by conducting daily construction site visits, directs site-specific safety requirements, and manages the company’s training program. He ensures that all their employees are knowledgeable in current safety standards and are updated regularly on changing requirements. David leads by example and has completed numerous hours of OSHA safety training, achieved multiple Federal Emergency Management Agency certifications, is certified in CPR and First Aid, holds the EM385-1-1 license given by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for construction safety and is an active member of the American Society of Safety Engineers.

“I am extremely humbled to receive this award and to join the elite group of past recipients,” said David. “I would sincerely like to thank the Board of Directors of TCI for selecting me. This honor can’t be achieved by an individual, but rather by a team of people with a passion to improve work place safety. The employees of TG Gallagher including upper management and our company's president, Brian Potter are committed to improving work place safety every day and I am honored to share this award with them.”

The awards are in honor of Patrick Volpe and Edward Eagan, both pioneers in promoting health and safety in the construction industry. In order to be eligible for this award, individuals must show responsibility for safety and health concerns for union construction workers within their organization, or have had a significant impact on the field of construction occupational safety and health through such areas as research, education and training, policymaking, or advocacy. 

“We are so proud of these two recipients for leading by example when it comes to safeguarding the lives and health of union construction workers,” said Mary Vogel. “This is one of the fundamental values of The Construction Institute, and we are pleased to carry on the tradition of this award.”

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