October 2021 ASCE-NH Lunch and Learn Webinar Summary
The October 2021 ASCE-NH lunch and learn occurred virtually as a Webinar via Zoom Video Communications . There were over 80 attendees during the event and the Webinar was another excellent opportunity for Members of the Sections ( and Non-Members ) to gather remotely , receive PDHs , and reengage in an interesting topic .
The Webinar was led by the Principal Coastal Engineer for Civilworks New England , Duncan Mellor , P . E . Mr . Mellor specializes in engineering services focused on coastal and waterfront projects for a wide spectrum of clients . His expertise was on full display throughout the Webinar as he updated the meeting attendants of the on-going Wood Island Life Saving Station Restoration and Access Improvements Project that he had presented on a year ago . Beginning in 2012 , the non-profit Wood Island Life Saving Station Association ( WILSSA ) began to spearhead the renovation effort to save the historic station and preserve the unique facility for future generations . The previous phases of the Project that were updated which included hazardous materials removal / building repairs ( 2016 ), installation of resilient doors / windows / shingles ( 2017 ), north seawall replacement ( 2018 ), south seawall replacement ( 2019 ), generator / solar / internet link ( 2019 ), and pier / railway improvements ( on-going in 2020 ). The work included in this construction season focused around the pier / railway completion and the various challenges and unique construction techniques used to bring these two historic systems back to life .
During the discussion of the pier and the railway system , details were shown about adapting the units to the harsh conditions by doing things such as minimizing the cross-bracing member size to reduce wave actions on the structures . There were also healthy discussions about pre-construction of units , the coordination efforts required to bring concrete to the island , and different construction materials used such as Ipe for the decking as opposed to pressure treated wood or other options .
Thank you to Duncan Mellor , P . E ., for his time and effort to make the Webinar exceptional . All attendees look forward to admiring the Station in person the next time they venture out into Portsmouth Harbor ! Please look for more Webinar opportunities from the ASCE-NH Section in the coming months .