Archive for June 2013

The Structural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers has made Jim DeStefano a Fellow of the institute. In order to qualify for this position, an engineer must not only be a licensed Professional Engineer, but must also have had charge of important work in the field of structural engineering. Throughout his career,…

80’s pop start Daryl Hall has been making waves again with his restored Georgian Colonial in upstate New York. The property recently sold for 6 million dollars but has quite a story to tell. DeStefano & Chamberlain worked together with Hall to combine two antique timber frames to create this period home. Since the completion…

The Hotchkiss School Biomass Heating Facility is featured in GreenSource–the magazine of sustainable design. The new facility is targeting LEED Silver certification for its use of wood chips as a renewable fuel source for the private school in northwest Connecticut. The project was designed by Centerbrook Architects and Planners and the Engineer of Record was…

We will be posting photos of our exciting projects, articles relating to the building industry, and of course, funny jokes and videos for your entertainment. Be sure to Like us on Facebook to follow all of our activities!

Robert A.M. Stern Architects have recently published a collection of their latest projects. Featured within Evidence are the Hotchkiss School dormitories where DeStefano & Chamberlain were the Engineer of Record. DeStefano & Chamberlain have also collaborated with RAMSA on the Choate Rosemary Environmental Center and the newest residence hall at the Hotchkiss School.

This year Mother Nature celebrated Halloween dressed as Hurricane Sandy. Making landfall over the state of New Jersey, the category one hurricane crashed into a low front transforming into a nor’easter as it continued north. Megastorm Sandy was felt as far west as Michigan bringing with her heavy rains and in some cases a few…

DeStefano & Chamberlain, Inc. gets featured in the summer edition of US Builders Review. The Art of Structural Design showcases the firm’s history of high quality work with architecturally exposed structures. Special thanks for our sponsors: E.M. Rose Builders Inc. and Carolina Timberworks. Click here to read the article!

DeStefano & Chamberlain is happy to announce that our friends at the firm of Shope Reno Wharton have published their first collective portfolio. House, Home & Heart: Artistry and Craftsmanship in the Architecture of Shope Reno Wharton is a compilation of “redefined modern architecture within a context of traditional sensibilities” (P. Goldberger). Showcasing their designs…

A tornado ravaged downtown Springfield, Massachusetts and several of the surrounding towns in an afternoon storm. The winds brought down trees, scattered debris, and damaged numerous buildings. DeStefano & Chamberlain was called in to investigate the structural integrity of Monson Town Hall which was severely damaged in the storm. Click here for the news report.

Kevin Chamberlain was interviewed by the Hartford Courant regarding potential roof collapses due to this winter’s heavy snowfall. Homeowners worry as the state gets bombarded with snow and wonder if they should shovel the snow off of their roof. “There’s no hard and fast rule for when you have too much snow,” says Kevin. “The…

The use of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), in place of traditional framing, is gaining momentum as seen in the story of a Virginia home. USA Today features owner Wendy Koch’s Green House Blog which follows the progress of construction of her new sustainable home. DeStefano & Chamberlain Inc. designed the SIP structure. Read the article.

Recently published, Design for Flooding (2011) includes a section on Flood-Resistant Design that has been co-authored by Jim DeStefano and Donald Watson. Discussion topics include flood design analysis, coastal regions, and best practices for building design. Pick up your copy at Amazon.com.

Jim DeStefano has written the Wood Construction chapter for this ASCE sponsored publication. The Sustainability Guidelines for the Structural Engineer (2010) is divided into several discussions regarding sustainable strategies for design, construction, infrastructure, and building materials. Pick up your copy at ASCE.org.

Our friend and client, Jeremy Bonin–an architect specializing in the design of timber framed buildings, has authored a new book on timber framed homes. Pick up your copy at Amazon.com.

DeStefano and Chamberlain along with Dan Conlon Architects received the ACEC 2008 Engineering Excellence Award for the St. Patrick Church. Kevin Chamberlain (center) along with Dan Conlon (far right). www.dconlonarchitects.com

DeStefano & Chamberlain, in collaboration with Panelwrights, has engineered the Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) system for the Cherokee School Project in North Carolina. With a total of 376,000 S.F. of SIPs, this is the largest SIP project ever built. Read the article.

Jim DeStefano is on the building committee for the proposed new Westport Weston Family Y which will be located on the site of Camp Mahackeno. The project is being designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects. www.westporty.org

Jim DeStefano is a founder and past chairman of the newly formed Timber Frame Engineering Council (TFEC). The TFEC is a group within the Timber Framers Guild of structural engineers and others with an interest in timber frame engineering. The TFEC is dedicated to advancing the technology of timber frame engineering. The goals and objectives…

Jim DeStefano has been appointed to the ASCE/SEI 24 Flood Resistant Design and Construction standard committee. Jim also serves on the SEI Sustainability committee. www.seinstitute.org