News
Occupation of Inches
November 18, 2010
| The fate of your building may be in the hands of the same technology Dr. Evil uses. Harry R. Feldman land surveyors have spent 46 years measuring property lines and the inner workings of landmarks: from I.M. Pei?s original John Hancock Tower to the new Liberty Mutual HQ. The tools have changed (we're talkin'lasers now) but the goal remains to provide data to improve Boston's built environment. |
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| We caught Justin Geddis, Stephen Wilkes, Mike Tucker, and David Neff discussing some of the enhanced capabilities of the latest laser-scanning technology. Steve is the tech guru and tells us it's so fast (how fast is it?), it can take 50,000 shots per second to gather the data needed to do a complex project like Liberty Mutua l?s or Children's Hospital?s main building addition, which involve new construction and the renovation of an existing building. To avoid surprises during construction, the laser gives a detailed depiction of the conditions in the existing buildings, like whether walls are plumb or bowed and exactly how high are the ceilings. The information ensures a seamless meeting of new and old. |
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| We snapped Sean McDonagh, Bob Applegate, Michael Feldman, and Mary Siddons. Michael is the third generation in the Feldman clan to run the business and to work on the Hancock Tower. The company is now surveying the property for new parking being installed in the basement of New England?s tallest high-rise. After sizing up the Hancock site for Beacon Capital, Broadway Partners, and Normandy, Feldman is now using traditional survey equipment and the latest in laser scanning to measure Trinity Place and the loading bay where the parking will be built. Michael?s team has also measured and recorded the conditions on Mass. Ave for Novartis?s new biotech labs and on Binney Street for Alexandria. |
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| Ever wonder how Fenway Center will get built over the Pike? Well,Marc Benedict, Paul Foley, Dan MacIsaac and George Lau are part of the team that worked up the extremely detailed plans measuring the rail structures, the Brookline Avenue, and Beacon Street bridges and the Turnpike?s walls and median strip. This data will enable Meredith Management to have a deck built that will sit just right to be safe and sound. Meanwhile, Michael tells us that every year, the company does pro bono scanning on two or three historic landmarks as a way of thanking Boston. Recently, they've worked on Symphony Hall, the African American Meeting House, and Dedham?s 1636 Fairbanks House. |
