Project Manager

Shawmut advances expansion of Princeton National Rowing Association's Caspersen Rowing Center. The expansion of the Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA)'s Finn M. W. Caspersen Rowing Center at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, NJ represents a significant investment in one of the country's premier rowing venues, further strengthening its role as both a community resource and a national training destination for the sport. Developed in collaboration with PNRA, USRowing, Studio Hillier, Mercer County and project management partner Pandion Development Management, the expansion is designed to support athletes of every level - from local youth and masters programs to members of the U.S. National and Olympic Team. Once complete, the enhanced facility will provide modern spaces which foster training, recovery, education, and community engagement while preserving the legacy of one of America's most respected rowing centers. The new addition will feature expanded boat storage, a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning center, dedicated ergometer training areas, recovery and locker facilities, athlete support spaces, meeting rooms, and improved amenities that create a world-class environment for rowing excellence. The facility is being designed to serve the evolving needs of elite competitors while also welcoming the thousands of athletes and community members who utilize Mercer Lake each year. As construction manager, Shawmut is leading the delivery of a highly collaborative project which combines thoughtful planning, quality craftsmanship, and careful coordination with the active rowing campus. Working alongside the owner, design team, and project partners, Shawmut is helping bring a vision to life - balancing architectural excellence with the functional requirements of a high-performance athletic facility. The Caspersen Rowing Center has long been recognized as one of the nation's premier rowing venues, hosting Olympic Trials, National Team selection events, and major national and international regattas. The facility is owned by Mercer County and managed under an operating agreement with PNRA and the other users of the center, Hun School, Lawrenceville School, Peddie School and USRowing. The expansion reinforces PNRA's mission of creating opportunities for rowers of all ages and abilities while ensuring that Mercer Lake remains a premier destination for competition and athlete development for generations to come. As construction continues to make significant progress, PNRA provides regular updates documenting the transformation of the facility and the team looks forward to completion of the project in fall 2026. Once completed, the Caspersen Rowing Center will be an asset for Mercer Count and stand as a lasting investment in the future of American rowing - one which reflects the shared commitment of PNRA, USRowing, Shawmut, and the entire project team to delivering a world-class home for the sport. June 9, 2026 Shawmut earns the #2 spot in the small and medium company category, out of 60 businesses across the city. June 8, 2026 Featured alongside 56 leaders, Les was selected for the impact he has made in shaping the future of the city. May 13, 2026 Shawmut builds on 25-year regional presence and decades of experience in public projects to pursue aviation, transportation, and municipal work opportunities.

Vitro glazing solutions transform Harvard's Gund Hall with major energy and comfort improvements. June 3, 2026 Harvard University's Graduate School of Design has completed a significant façade modernization of Gund Hall, leveraging advanced glazing technologies from Vitro Architectural Glass to dramatically improve thermal performance, occupant comfort, and daylight quality while preserving the building's iconic architectural identity. Originally designed in 1972, the concrete modernist landmark is known for its stepped studio terraces, expansive curtain walls, and clerestory glazing, but decades of operation exposed challenges related to air infiltration, water penetration, glare, and energy efficiency. The renovation team, led by Bruner / Cott Architects in collaboration with Lam Partners, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, A&A Window Products, and Shawmut Design & Construction, developed façade-specific glazing strategies tailored to the building's varying solar exposures. Rather than applying a uniform solution, performance targets were established for each elevation, balancing visible light transmittance, solar heat gain control, and visual clarity. A cornerstone of the project was the implementation of Vitro's VacuMax(TM) Vacuum Insulating Glass (VIG) on the north and south elevations. To meet Massachusetts stretch energy code requirements demanding a façade U-value of 0.25, the design team sought an alternative to bulky triple glazing that would have altered the building's original appearance. The resulting hybrid VIG assembly delivered an overall system U-value of 0.19, while achieving an exceptional center-of-glass U-value of 0.06, approximately four times the thermal performance of conventional double glazing. The south elevation incorporates Solarban(R) R100 glass, Solargray(R) glass, Acuity(R) low-iron glass, warm-edge spacers, and argon-filled insulating units to reduce glare while maintaining accurate color rendering and achieving an interior solar heat gain coefficient of 0.21. On the north and east façades, Solarban(R) 90 Acuity(R) glass was selected to replicate the clarity of the original plate glass while minimizing unwanted color shifts and reducing solar heat gain. Across 15,475 square feet of newly glazed area replacing 1,617 original units, the upgraded enclosure is projected to reduce building energy use intensity by 22.2% and utility costs by 19.1%, while significantly enhancing daylight autonomy and studio comfort throughout Gund Hall. Published June 03, 2026 June 3, 2026