November 2022 Newsletter

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November 2022 NEWSLETTER

FROM THE CORNER OFFICE

John Sartor, PE President and CEO

Dear Friend of PS&S: Fall is finally here! It's one of my favorite times of year — crisp mornings, clean air and incredible colors as the leaves begin to change. But one of the consequences of the fall are the shorter, colder days ahead. Less sunlight means we are keeping our lights on longer and turning up our thermostats. It's at times like these that we reflect on how we generate all the energy to meet our demand. At PS&S, we have long believed in the integration of innovative designs which include sustainable materials, environmentally friendly storm water and development designs, and utilization of alternative energy sources that are proving to be more viable as technologies have improved. In fact, "Greengineering" is a PS&S international trademark and a term we use to describe some of the projects we are involved with throughout the region. Of course, a term is just a term unless you put it into action, and I am proud to say we do that every day. A good example is PS&S' involvement with "daylighting" the Saw Mill River in the middle of the thriving City of Yonkers. This multi-stage project began in 2012 and was recently cited by National Geographic as one of America's best conservation efforts. The project required the removal of a large concrete culvert and parking area that had been covering the river since the 1920s. Today the river attracts, turtles, heron, ducks, muskrat, and many species of fish and, of course, the people of Yonkers and surrounding areas who are drawn to the 2.2-acre city park. As the project progressed, we advanced the use of technology and integrated a hydroelectric wheel to power the downtown streetlights. In architecture and engineering, use of alternative energy sources is increasing worldwide. In the United States, the LEED program has made great strides in promoting the development of green buildings. In 2010, the non-profit Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) began the Envision credentialling program with an eye towards driving the development of environmentally responsible, energy efficient infrastructure. While based in Washington, D.C., Envision is an international effort with notable projects in Canada, Italy, Mexico and Spain. PS&S is proud to say that we will be the ENV SP for one of the largest infrastructure projects in the New York Metropolitan region. As we look towards the expansion of energy projects in the United States — many of which are being generated by the Infrastructure Bill — PS&S is increasing its capabilities with new talent such as Envision-credentialled professionals and greater resources in architecture and engineering for all forms of energy. To help spearhead our resources, Keith Edmonds recently joined PS&S, bringing decades of energy infrastructure experience to our firm. So as the leaves turn and the shadows lengthen, for our Fall Newsletter, we decided to ask Keith and other talented professionals in our energy and landscaping units what they are seeing from the projects they are working on? Will Envision have an impact on our infrastructure development similar to LEED on our building design? And where do you see us going? I think you will be interested in what they have to say. Sincerely, John Sartor, PE President and Chief Executive Officer

Miguel Salinas, LSRP, CPSS, Executive Vice President, Environmental & Energy

"Everything we touch has a component of sustainability built into it. Of course, that's good business sense and it is increasingly demanded by regulators, but — beyond that — in this day and age, people want to be involved with projects that are designed and built in a way that is considerate of the environment. All over the United States, we are seeing massive opportunities in green energy across the board — whether that's helping to harness the wind off the shores of New Jersey or building solar infrastructure in Pennsylvania. Across the industry there is a growing commitment to the use of alternative sources of energy. And, around those opportunities, we foresee challenges in harvesting that energy and getting it back into the grid — that work is very much at the forefront of what we do. Indeed, a lot of what is being discussed with renewable power sources (particularly wind) has not been done at this scale in the United States — which makes it both interesting and exciting for PS&S as a firm and for the energy industry as a whole."

Kristine McCool, PE, PMP, ENV SP, Vice President, Energy Services

"Making the world a better, greener place is top of mind for Energy & Utility professionals now. It is the wave of the future and Envision is certainly a great program for us to build consensus around as professionals. Right now, there's tremendous focus on harvesting wind energy and delivering it to the grid. A lot needs to happen between the turbines in the ocean and land-based infrastructure, so we are helping with the permitting and the engineering. We're also involved in a solar energy project in South Jersey where we are responsible for survey, site/civil engineering, and environmental permitting, and are looking forward to many more of these projects moving forward. And we foresee big opportunities in the construction of EV charging stations where PS&S can do everything from siting and permitting to the electrical design. Envision is a credentialling and certification program and increasingly part of the RFP process, but it is also a way of thinking that people should understand and be aware of — whether you are on the design and build side or if you live in a community where sustainable infrastructure projects are underway. Envision is very much intended as a 'win-win' for builders and citizens alike — and, of course, the environment itself."

Keith Edmonds, Director

"I came to PS&S with more than 25 years of experience in energy infrastructure primarily on the natural gas side. What I believe is happening now with the drive towards sustainable energy is a common understanding that we can adopt new technologies while, in many cases, making use of existing energy infrastructure. A good example is the fact that we have hundreds of thousands of miles of natural gas pipeline in the United States that can also carry hydrogen. By electrolyzing water and producing hydrogen we can blend the output with natural gas and increase the energy content of the pipeline. For sustainable energy projects, I think we’re likely to see many cases like this where we marry technologies versus replacing them. Programs like LEED and Envision are very much in sync with the direction we are taking as PS&S and as an industry."

Daniel Maher, RLA, SIA ISA Certified Arborist, Senior Director, Landscape Architecture

"My team is especially proud to be involved in the Penn Station Access project, which is one of biggest undertakings right now in New York and, indeed, the whole Northeast. The MTA made the decision to seek Envision certification and PS&S is leading that process across the design and build spectrum for the entry plazas. That means we are responsible for the architects, site/civil engineers, structural engineers — the whole team — making sure that they know what the requirements and deliverables are for achieving Envision certification. Yes, it is a lot of work, but we believe we will see more and more city and state agencies seeking certified, sustainable infrastructure and buildings — and that is good for everyone in the long run."

Erin Lybeck, RLA, LEED Green Associate, ENV SP, Senior Project Landscape Architect, Landscape Architecture

"I am part of the team working on the Penn Station Access project where PS&S is responsible for Envision coordination and the design and construction of the station entry plazas. We are creating pleasant, green spaces where people can sit and wait for their trains, which means working with our arborists, utilizing shade trees and all other aspects of the physical environment from a landscaping point of view. The movement that began with LEED for an individual building — through Envision — can now be seen in public works projects of all kinds whether it's a railroad, airport, streetscape, city park or other comparable project. There is a focus on resiliency, water quality and overall community health that is greater than ever before. The MTA wants the Penn Station Access project carried out in a way that is environmentally responsible and we feel privileged to be part of that effort."

Saw Mill River Daylighting Project Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

We are celebrating the 10 Year Anniversary of our award-winning project that is featured in this month's issue of National Geographic, the Yonkers Saw Mill River Daylighting Park!

Thank you to our partner, Groundwork Hudson Valley, for creating this special video honoring this rich piece of history and our collaborative work.

National Geographic features PS&S Project as One of Four Conservation Projects that Preserves America

The September issue of National Geographic features an urban park in Yonkers that Warren-based PS&S, an architecture, engineering, surveying, and environmental consulting firm, was instrumental in creating.  The Yonkers Saw Mill River Daylighting Park is included in an article featuring only four parks nationwide titled ‘America the Beautiful; New ideas for protecting land, water and wildlife.’

The Saw Mill River was buried beneath the City of Yonkers at the beginning of the 20th Century. “Daylighting” the river, that is, returning the river to a more natural, open-air condition, provided community and ecological benefits and was part of Yonkers plan for social and economic progress.  PS&S led a landscape architecture team in creating a new urban river and park through the center of downtown Yonkers, New York, which features two dynamic pools and three strategic low waterfalls.

As the article states, “After native plants were installed along the new channel, wildlife appeared as if by magic. Muskrat, herons, turtles, and ducks are spotted here regularly.”   The PS&S design included a fish ladder that supports the American eel migration, an outdoor learning enclave and a hydro-electric water wheel that powers streetlights near City Hall.

“This was a true conservation project that has resulted in a win-win for the environment as well as for the community economically,” said John Sartor, President and CEO of PS&S.  “We are proud to have helped create such a visionary project that included so many local, state and federal entities to make this a reality.”