We want to keep all our friends and clients included in what's happening here at Quality Alternatives Architecture & Engineering.

It has been some time since we kept in contact with all of you. We thought we'd let you know that we have been devoting our emphasis on developing alliances to offer our clients a quality, full service package.

Milestones Engineering, P.C., a minority, woman owned Electrical design firm brings all the same hands on, field attentiveness & design expertise that we expect in our projects. Field surveys, short circuit studies, breaker coordination studies and electrical specifications & design are now a seamless project deliverable.

Nelson Franco, acting as a process engineering consultant to Quality Alternatives has brought an added level of front end project development and execution with qualification experience. His strengths lie in evaluating the criteria, analyzing the material and product process, development of basis of design, as well as process equipment & hydraulic engineering.

Matt O'Rourke joins us this summer from Bucknell University. Matt will be working with us gaining field experience and engineering application before returning this fall as a Junior in Mechanical Engineering.

Did you know? Our capabilites include Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Design. Client success story: Celgene Corporation for 11,400 sq. ft. Laboratory design. "Quality Alternatives provides a refreshing engineering experience. Incorporated in their design are the owner's and contractor/builder representative's perspective. Their attention to detail is evident from the field measurements to the tailored specifications, which translate into appreciation from both the owner and the contractor. Contractor questions are minimized; the building permit process is streamlined and ultimately construction documents are buildable. Additionally, I find QA's incredible qualification knowledge a huge benefit. The design & specifications of the mechanical and control systems incorporates this knowledge. This complete package has resulted in better schedule adherence to critical timelines." Doug MacGorman, Facilities Manager

Did you know? Our capabilities include preparation of Architectural planning board applications. Client success story: Lau for Restaurant. "I continue to use Quality Alternatives because they give us excellent and prompt service, the most noticeable difference in dealing with Quality Alternatives is their professionalism, the depth of knowledgeable and how accessible they are to the client. They take the time to give peace of mind by answering all the questions. The other Architectural & Engineering firms we have used were difficult to get return phone calls or make contact with and made us feel we asked more that a client had a right to. Quality Alternatives has made a difference, in accomplishing our goals and meeting our deliverables in tight timelines. We are very well satisfied." Josephine Lau, Owner/Site Developer

Did you know? Our cababilities include Structural & HVAC evaluation of existing facility and design for Auto dealerships. Client success story: Kristen Development for 28,000 sq. ft. auto dealership. "I would not hesitate to use Quality Alternatives again, there attention to detail and commitment were evident through out the design process and their willingness to address issues outside the scope in a timely manner was also greatly appreciated. Both the owner and my needs were met in the design." Joe Fucetola, Owner, Kristen Development

For More Client Referances

Some years back, while running a project for a central chiller plant, the design was well thought out, commissioning was blocked out for the balancing and documenting of the base information and shop drawings were not only reviewed but coordinated with the trades. Things were progressing, when start- up uncovered a major performance deficiency. The remote buildings were not receiving the anticipated water amounts by mega levels. The design was checked; the shop drawings were reviewed and the balancer was called to trouble shoot the system with the construction manager and controls contractor. Bottom line, after extensive analysis, the orifice plates were suspected. The team challenged the design which held and confirmed the shop drawing approval, which was solid. So what was the problem? The field inspection indicated the size stamped on the orifice plates was correct. Since there was a large pressure drop across the orifice plates, there was no other option but to drain the entire system and inspect the orifice plates. Result, the plates were not manufactured according to specifications and were improperly identified. In hindsight, the assumption of the orifice plates stamped to match the shop drawing was not enough. We learned a valuable lesson, to confirm the orifice opening prior to installation.

More recently, while commissioning a GMP laboratory, the air balancer produced a report indicating the air flows and corresponding pressure gradients were within the specified tolerances. Oddly, review of the data did not support the pressure gradients and the commissioning team was dispatched to investigate. In our check out and simulation, it was determined the doors were installed with zero leakage and there was no way to measure differential pressure accross the door without severly crimping the manometer tubing. So how did the air balancer get his data? Phone calls revealed he was unable, as we were, to measure per the prescibed test, and therefore utilized the monitoring system. But analyzing the data demonstrated the pressure relationships were not stable but rather fluctuating. Further investigation by the commissioning team revealed the tubing & connections to be of poor quality. Provision & installation of quality fittings and proper tubing installation resolved the issue swiftly due to the experience of knowing what data to collect and where to look.

There is more to a successful project than design, shop drawing approval and field inspections. The ability to access the system performance and swiftly trouble shoot while in commissioning are invaluable, to meeting the timelines and keeping the project on course.

As I have officially passed the middle 40's, I am living proof that my posterior is spreading. I look into the mirror in the morning and wonder who that chunky thing is. There is no comparison to the era before children, where even though I worked, I still had sports, sweat and "living to eat" only meant running a couple of miles, which I love. After children, work and now the added running of a business, I acknowledge there is far less activity in my life style, hence, allowing the middle age spread to win.

While participating in the Landmark Education curriculum, I was asked "What is one thing you want to do to live the life you love?" Now for those of you who know me, I generally don't have to think too long or hard and I generally go after it with a vengeance. But, given multiple opportunities, the lack of physical activity came up. Where to fit it in? How to fit it in? Can't run before work, too dark; not after either, too dark. The only running around I'm doing is driving to drop off and pick up my children at sports events, schools and friends. So my co-worker, Annalisa pipes up "Oh, she stays late at work almost every day." You snitch. I defend myself. "I'm just waiting for my son to finish Tae- Kwon-Do, no sense in traveling home and back when I can get in an extra hour of work." My Landmark friend, Ira, suggests I join Tae-Kwon-Do with my son. In fact, why not the whole family. I can tell you, I participated in many sports, such as running the quarter mile and hurdling, throwing the javelin, playing softball on a mixed league, bowling, racquetball, swimming, horseback ridding, hiking, etc. But, never once and still I can't, visualize myself in Tae-Kwon-Do. But the best thing I got out of the Landmark curriculum was to get out of my own way, so I just did it.

My son Ian calls me his little flying leprechaun mommy. He towers over me at 15. After two months I now do an average of 40 pushups a class, 4 classes per week. I have done 3 in my entire life prior. In all the sports I've participated in I did weight lifting and sit-ups. Pushups were impossible. We do our forms together, me turning left when it should be right. I was never good at this sort of thing, Ian smiles and whispers, "other hand, other foot". If we get caught whispering its 10 push ups for the class. We are flying through the air breaking wood, which I find completely exhilarating. Ian being a higher belt is sparring while I am laughing and cheering, wondering what was I thinking, as only a few months and one test separates me from the same fate. We just recently competed in a tournament where we each placed third, Ian for breaking, mom for forms. How cool is that? I had no idea how much fun and how hard it was. It didn't look like much to watch when I shuffled back and forth picking up Ian. However, the stances within the forms are exact, and they require strength to execute and hold the position not to mention flexibility, something else that went by the wayside as I got older. As I watch 7 year old black belts do 200+ pushups and perform with such crisp power, I'm inspired. Yes, I'm the only chunky adult in the kid's class, but I can't stay awake for the adult class. Ian and my youngest son Zachary practice at home with me. Zachary has just joined us. Now there is another family member to whisper encougagements to. Hope you enjoyed the personal glimpse into our family.