Ask people why they choose to make the Upper Valley their home and the discussion soon turns to such issues as quality of life, a sense of community, and opportunities for personal enrichment and growth. Most individuals are sensitive to current and future regional growth challenges, and of the need for proper planning. All will readily accept that change is inevitable (except from a vending machine!), as is the inevitability of new residents, business entities and institutions to serve the growing needs of an expanding population.

The contractor community exists to create and build. It’s the nature of our work to change the physical landscape. First and foremost, though, we are Upper Valley residents. I’d like to believe that as residents, stakeholders to the development process, and builders, we may offer unique insight and perspective. As a builder positioned to respond to needed residential housing requirements, we may initially view the process from the developer’s prism, but also bring an understanding of the needs, concerns and challenges associated with such tasks. We all recognize the cost associated with limited available housing. In the months ahead, we will work closely with an area developer and help to expand the housing stock. We also live here, and are sensitive to the anxiety and concern of neighbors and neighborhoods, and to disruption and environmental change that is inherent to all building processes. We work hard to limit both worry and disruption; it’s what we’d expect from a neighbor. As a builder who recognizes the facility expansion needs within the local medical community, we value the opportunity to work with Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital to help meet such challenges. The Robert Mesropian Center for Community Care is the latest example of a successful T-N/APD Memorial Hospital collaborative project. And as a local business with employees who call the Upper Valley “home,” and who are fortunate to participate in many local projects, we assuredly respond with pride to all measures that enhance this area’s quality of life.

Trumbull-Nelson is looking ahead to a busy summer building season, including a variety of residential and commercial projects. As our cover photo indicates, work on the Robert Mesropian Center for Community Care is now complete, and we will soon finish the Quechee Gorge Visitor’s Center, and the Dartmouth College Rugby Club. In the month of March, we completed our work on the Burtcher Fieldhouse, at the Stratton Mountain School, in Stratton Mountain, Vermont. Our work at Howe Library is moving forward on schedule, and we have initiated work at Crossroads Academy, in Lyme, NH. We are also completing a variety of work at Stryker Biotech, in West Lebanon, NH, and will soon begin residential projects within Upper Valley and Southern Vermont.

Our Spring issue of Constructive Images covers a number of interesting topics related to building that we hope you will find interesting. We are also highlighting, pictorially, a few challenging renovation projects completed by the Company over the years. Our thanks to various photo archivists (acknowledged within) for help in securing related project pictures.

Enjoy the warmer weather, and please let us know if we can provide you with any building help in the months ahead.