The exceptional value of good design

La bella figura is an Italian phrase that means “the beautiful figure”. This idiom sums up the Italian attitude of beauty being the most important thing and why you will notice some of the world’s most cherished art forms and architecture when visiting that country.

Students of many accredited Architecture programs are required to study for a time in Rome to absorb the culture and learn from the historic and iconic design of the region’s magnificent structures. These educational experiences coupled with an architect’s innate ability to visualize, plan, and reason through problems can offer a client an invaluable resource to provide a lasting, effective design for each project.

A talented, well-trained architect not only possesses the ability to sketch out a series of creative ideas for discussion with the client but also has the reasoning skills to produce precise drawings used to construct a solid, functional building as well as the foresight to avoid costly construction surprises. These individuals can typically be as wildly creative or as practical as you need them to be depending on your budget, timeline, or taste. This makes the service of architecture an invaluable asset to any project.

Many times the need for architectural drawings are considered a necessary evil by contractors or developers in today’s fast-paced world. However, considering the absolute value that an experienced architect can provide will allow you to see beyond the cost to the long-term savings of a good design. Flexibility, distinctiveness, experience, and attention to detail are what a licensed architect can offer your project saving you time, reducing costly redesign during construction, and allowing you the ability to prepare in advance for future expansion.

The architects and designers in the Buildings Division at Borton-Lawson bring the culmination of unique ideas and abilities, significant educational experiences, and years of working with diverse clients to your projects. The designers of Borton-Lawson strive to produce quality designs that benefit our community and positively affect the environment. This approach provides personal fulfillment for them and lasting, effective, and safe environments for the public. A building is etched into the landscape of a community and may be noticed by people for years to come. Why not recruit the talent of the designers in our Buildings Division to design your next project?

Illumination. Delivered.

Mayor Tom Leighton, Mayor of the City of Wilkes-Barre, has spent much of his term trying to combat skepticism toward the City through his “I believe” campaign, which is intended to create excitement for the revitalization efforts happening in the Downtown.

Governor Rendell, Mayor Leighton, and local citizens involved in making this project happen gathered on South Main Street to watch the illumination of the first phase of street lights. The crowd responded in applause and cheers when the light switch was flipped. Borton-Lawson completed the design for the entire project, which included a great deal of public participation and coordination with key parties. Although the overall response of the proposed lights was a positive one, the feeling at the public meeting last spring was doubt that the lights would be installed in a timely fashion. One year later, Borton-Lawson was able to join the community in this celebration of optimism and pride for this historic city.

Levee system stands up to the pressure

Last month’s severe flooding is still fresh in the minds of many Wyoming Valley residents, but we can all be thankful that the sturdy levee system, proudly standing along the Susquehanna, minimized a great deal of devastation for the community.

Borton-Lawson in conjunction with the United States Army Corps of Engineers completed the design for the levee system in 1998 in response to the 1972 Agnes Flood. The design included pumping station structural retrofits for 21 stormwater and sanitary pumping stations, restoration and remanufacturing of 42 pumps and motors ranging in size from 15,000 GPM to 50,000 GPM capacity, as well as mechanical, electrical, and controls equipment to operate the pumping stations. Survey and hydraulic analysis of many streams tributary to the Susquehanna River, numerous retrofits to relief culverts, pressure conduits, stop logs, and other incidental infrastructure within the levee system were other important aspects of the project.

Tom Lawson, P.E., our Executive Vice President, was onsite during the flooding for inspections and monitoring of the levee system because of his extensive experience with this type of work with the Corps. Borton-Lawson was awarded the top honor at the American Council of Consulting Engineers Excellence in Engineering Competition in 1999 for their design work on this project. The system performed beyond the Corps expectations during the fourth highest flooding event on record.

An inside out view of our firm

If you could see what I see as I sit in the midst of dozens of engineers and architects on a daily basis at Borton-Lawson, you would quickly come to appreciate the value of what they do as I have over the past two years. My preconceived notions of engineers included everything from pocket protectors to blue socks paired with black velcro shoes. I must admit that there is the occasional instance of stereotypical engineering behavior, even at our firm, but those quirks do not change the determination, innovation, and integrity that these individuals possess.

When I was hired by the marketing department to do creative writing and design for Borton-Lawson, it was instantly apparent that my personality and abilities were on the opposite side of the spectrum from the majority of individuals I shared office space with. The colorful, abstract ads that I became so proud of up to this point were given blank stares by the technical staff. Trying to get a structural engineer to tell me how the finished project of his truss system design made him feel was a foreign concept. As discouraging as these dissimilarities were in the beginning, it has turned out to be a rewarding challenge to go beyond my ideas to proactively learn what the people in this organization are all about and, in turn, communicate that to our customers.

Through countless conversations and meetings, I began to understand the business and the lingo of the engineering world, but it was ultimately through the trade shows, job fairs, and team projects that I really began to connect with these designers on another level, participate in their interests, and understand how they arrived at where they are today. I was surprised to learn that many of these engineers and architects have been working toward their design careers since they were small children with legos and sketchpads, while many continue to push themselves to achieve the next level in their field. These dedicated professionals truly love what they do and are enthusiastic at even the prospect of working on new, exciting projects.

Every day I get to watch project teams complete their work with pride and ownership. Quality is never overlooked in our firm, and each project is treated as if it was their own. I have seen the unique bond between a company Vice President and a recent graduate reminiscing about their similar engineering class experiences at Penn State, proud designers taking their families to the anticipated Great Wolf Lodge that they spent four years designing, and a recently promoted project manager leading a design team to the successful completion of a local project.

I write this to communicate the heart of Borton-Lawson’s owners and staff from an “ inside out” perspective as well as share the effect it has had on me and my career. Borton-Lawson is here to make our client’s vision a reality, and we are glad to do it.

Keeping concerned citizens informed

The design team responsible for the South Valley Parkway in lower Luzerne County met one more time with the public to display final concepts to concerned area residents. This project has generated an immense amount of public interest since its inception in 2000, and this is the fourth and final public meeting about the proposed design.

After several years of designing concepts to meet the needs of the community, the project designers narrowed it down to one final plan linking Route 29 to the Kirmar Parkway, which will ease traffic congestion along Middle Road and surrounding roadways as well as provide easier access to Luzerne County Community College. Those interested in the project were able to view the final design, ask questions of the design team, and complete surveys to share comments. Feedback from the meeting indicates that the majority of citizens are satisfied with the current alignment, and construction on the roadway is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2009.