Engineers harvest heart's energy to power life-saving devices

The heart's motion is so powerful that it can recharge devices that save our lives, according to new research from Dartmouth College. Using a dime-sized invention developed by engineers at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, the kinetic energy of the heart can be converted into electricity to power a wide range of implantable devices, according to the study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Millions of people rely on pacemakers, defibrillators and other life-saving implantable devices powered by batteries that need to be replaced every five to 10 years. Those replacements require surgery which can be costly and create the possibility of complications and infections.

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GC Powerhouse PCL Construction Chooses Industry-Leading STACK Construction Technologies as Its New Preconstruction Partner

Newswire | September 28, 2023

STACK Construction Technologies, a pioneering cloud-based construction platform, announced today a strategic partnership with PCL Construction, a globally renowned 8 billion-dollar in work per year General Contractor, to optimize PCL’s preconstruction process. PCL supports projects from small renovations to major sports complexes, and their team recognized a more powerful preconstruction solution was needed to support their continued growth and profitability. “As we broaden our capabilities and move further into the GC space, this partnership validates that STACK is a serious player in construction technology,” said Phil Ogilby, CEO and Co-Founder of STACK. “STACK is one of the most intuitive and collaborative preconstruction platforms in existence today. We’re thrilled to be able to offer STACK’s open API to help streamline the PCL workflow in a way that no other solutions on the market can.” The partnership is underscored by PCL and STACK’s commitment to innovation in the construction industry. After a rigorous evaluation of the market and multiple competitor software solutions, PCL chose STACK based on the platform’s data availability, cloud collaboration, data security, and integration capabilities. They are streamlining their preconstruction processes with STACK’s innovative and hyper-accurate takeoff feature to enhance their estimating capabilities. “As part of a modernization of our estimating solutions, experts within the PCL estimating team did a broad market scan for quantity takeoff solutions,” said Brad Ens, Preconstruction Manager for PCL Construction in Calgary, Alberta. “Our hands-on approach of evaluating several competing products included functional verification that ultimately led us to select STACK as our tool of choice for quantity takeoff.” By leveraging STACK's open API, PCL is able to seamlessly integrate their existing workflow to produce better estimating data. Through the cloud-based platform, PCL will have unparalleled flexibility and accessible data, increasing the precision of estimates, minimizing manual processes, and supporting better-informed decision-making. With over 30 offices across the US, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean, STACK will also further empower PCL’s team collaboration. “A key decision criterion for PCL was based on the fact that STACK is built on a modern cloud technology platform which enables improved collaboration during the quantity takeoff process,” said Kevin Sundquist, Senior Relationship Manager, Business Technology at PCL Construction. “Equally important, STACK comes with a modern integration layer that allows us to realize efficiencies for our estimators by integrating takeoff into the rest of our estimating solution suite. This cloud-first approach aligns with our overall technology strategy, driving both technology and business efficiencies.” PCL is a powerhouse, consistently in Engineering News-Record’s Top 15 List and boasting a range of projects from San Diego Airport’s International Arrivals Terminal to Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles-based BMO stadium. The partnership between PCL and STACK marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for two of the most innovative companies in construction, where data-driven decision-making and digital solutions are poised to revolutionize preconstruction processes. As industry leaders, both organizations are committed to delivering outstanding results, setting new standards for advancement, and accelerating growth. “PCL has not only recognized us for our comprehensive, hyper-accurate takeoff solution, they’ve also recognized how we partner with them throughout the entire process,” said Raymond DeZenzo, CFO of STACK. “STACK is a true partner. We are dedicated to understanding the unique needs and challenges of each project undertaken by PCL and then tailoring development, training, and support to ensure that our solution seamlessly integrates into PCL's existing business process.” About STACK Construction Technologies From project evaluation to completion, contractors use STACK’s cloud-based software to help run their business and maximize their profits. Our preconstruction solutions enable fast and accurate takeoff and estimating, as well as providing a centralized hub where plans, specs, and other construction documents can be stored, evaluated, measured, and shared. Our construction solutions power real-time field and project collaboration by allowing teams to quickly and easily review, annotate, compare, and share plans, anywhere, from any device. STACK’s superior collaboration tools ultimately improve project outcomes and profitability for contractors. About PCL Construction PCL is a group of independent construction companies that carries out work across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and in Australia. These diverse operations in the civil infrastructure, heavy industrial, and buildings markets are supported by a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers. Together, these companies have an annual construction volume of more than $8 billion, making PCL the largest contracting organization in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Watch us build at PCL.com.

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Construction

HED Announces Strategic Partnership with Denver-based Larson Incitti Architects

PR Newswire | October 05, 2023

HED, a leading national architecture and engineering firm, is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with Denver-based Larson Incitti Architects. This formal partnership combines Larson Incitti Architects' staff with HED's national, award-winning integrated architecture and engineering team, significantly expanding Larson Incitti Architects' capabilities in education, religious and community design. Together, the firms will leverage community relationships to create new opportunities across multiple market sectors. Marking its 25-year anniversary of experience in the greater Denver area, the Larson Incitti Architects team has established trust among clients in the community and Pre-K-12 education sectors by consistently delivering excellence through collaborative design innovation and dedication to client service. HED is well positioned to build upon that tradition of excellence with expanded market sector expertise in housing, science, mission critical, workplace, healthcare, higher education, manufacturing and product development. HED offers the support of a national team of architects, planners, MEP and structural engineers, and design specialists in laboratory planning, experiential graphic design, and landscape architecture. "Our strategic partnership with Larson Incitti Architects is a great fit because of our shared commitment to create a positive impact for clients and the greater community," said Enrique Suarez, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, CO-CEO of HED. "We are pleased to formally announce our partnership and look forward to using our combined strength to explore new opportunities in the Denver area and deliver long-term success for our clients." HED is known for its aspirational company culture and innovative professional services, and collaborative approach to project teaming. As an inclusive and integrated practice, HED values diversity in perspectives, experiences, abilities, and expertise, and this reputation and culture fits neatly with Larson Incitti Architects values. An award-winning integrated firm of architects and engineers, HED has recently been honored with national recognition for its collaborative, innovative solutions and project leadership by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). "Larson Incitti Architects has always been dedicated to client service and committed to the Denver community, and since our founding, we've emphasized learning and collaboration in our company culture — values we share with HED," said Bruce Larson, AIA, Principal of Larson Incitti Architects. "Those shared values and commitments are strengthened by joining forces with a national team, and we look forward to working with HED to continue creating positive impact for our clients in Denver and the surrounding area." About HED At HED, great design is about thinking creatively to overcome challenges and improve real world outcomes. Our firm has a long history and reputation for excellence because we believe that all the facets of our design, from architecture, engineering, consulting, and planning, must create a positive impact for our clients, the community, and the world through responsive, innovative, and sustainable design solutions. This belief has allowed our firm to become one of the 200 largest design firms in the US, serving clients nationally in a broad range of market sectors including Healthcare, Higher Education, Mission Critical, Housing and Mixed-Use, Pre-K 12, Science, Manufacturing and New Product Development, Workplace, Community and Government

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Construction Partners, Inc. Completes South Carolina Acquisition.

PR Newswire | October 03, 2023

Construction Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROAD) ("CPI" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated civil infrastructure company specializing in the construction and maintenance of roadways across six southeastern states, today announced that it has acquired Hubbard Paving & Grading, Inc., headquartered in Walhalla, South Carolina. The acquisition adds one hot-mix asphalt plant and related construction operations to CPI's South Carolina platform company, King Asphalt, Inc., and will expand its service market in the Upstate region. Fred J. (Jule) Smith, III, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The Upstate area of South Carolina continues to be one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing areas in the United States. We welcome the skilled team of professionals from Hubbard and look forward to serving the infrastructure needs of the greater Greenville metro area as a combined organization." About Construction Partners, Inc. Construction Partners, Inc. is a vertically integrated civil infrastructure company operating across six southeastern states. Supported by its hot-mix asphalt plants, aggregate facilities and liquid asphalt terminal, the company focuses on the construction, repair and maintenance of surface infrastructure. Publicly funded projects make up the majority of its business and include local and state roadways, interstate highways, airport runways and bridges. The company also performs private sector projects that include paving and sitework for office and industrial parks, shopping centers, local businesses and residential developments.

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