Fitzemeyer & Tocci Wins Silver Award at 2026 ACEC/MA Engineering Excellence Awards

Fitzemeyer & Tocci Associates, Inc. (F&T) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the 2026 ACEC/MA Engineering Excellence Silver Award for its exceptional MEP/FP engineering work on the Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital (BWFH) Inpatient Tower Addition in Boston, Massachusetts.

This recognition celebrates F&T’s leadership in designing resilient, sustainable, and patient-focused healthcare infrastructure for one of the region’s most respected community hospitals.

F&T's Stephen Picariello and Jason Butler accept the Silver Engineering Excellence Award.

About the Engineering Excellence Award

Presented annually by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA), the Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) recognize outstanding engineering achievements that demonstrate innovation, complexity, and societal value. This year’s winners were honored at the ACEC/MA Awards Gala held on April 14, 2026, at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. 

F&T's Jason Butler and Stephen Picariello at the Silver Engineering Excellence Award Gala

About the Award-Winning Project

Fitzemeyer & Tocci provided MEP/FP engineering and construction administration services for the new five-story, 98,000-square-foot inpatient tower addition, supported by 15,700 square feet of renovations to the existing hospital. The project expands Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital’s inpatient capacity and clinical capabilities through:

• 78 private, single-occupancy patient rooms

• An expanded radiology and MRI suite

• A new, enlarged endoscopy department

• An eight-bed extended recovery unit

Constructed in a tight urban setting above active hospital departments, the project required meticulous planning and coordination to maintain uninterrupted 24/7 hospital operations throughout construction.

Exterior shot of the Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital

Exterior shot of the Inpatient Tower Addition to the Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital

Shot of a rooftop HVAC Unit at the New Inpatient Tower

Shot of rooftop systems at the New Inpatient Tower for BWFH

Shot of cooling tower systems at the New Inpatient Tower for BWFH

Exterior shot of the New Inpatient Tower at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital

Shot of mechanical room at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital

Shot of mechanical room at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital

Shot of patient room at the Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital's New Inpatient Tower

Shot of hallway at the Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital's New Inpatient Tower

Innovative Engineering Solutions

F&T delivered a forward-thinking, sustainable infrastructure system that aligned with the hospital’s goals for operational flexibility and energy efficiency:

• Hybrid HVAC strategy using chilled beams in patient rooms and VAV systems in procedural areas

• New high-efficiency, water-cooled chilled water plant with N+1 redundancy

• Integration with the existing cogeneration and steam boiler plant

• Double-ended unit substation with dual utility feeds for enhanced electrical resiliency

• Fifth floor designed for rapid negative pressure conversion to support airborne infection control

• Advanced BIM coordination, phased construction, and selective prefabrication for precision and minimized disruption

The project is designed to meet LEED Silver standards, supporting long-term sustainability, optimized performance, and improved patient well-being.

As Edward Pitts, CHFM, CLSS-HC, Executive Director of Facilities & Support Services at BWFH, stated: “For the Inpatient Tower Addition, F&T’s collaboration was instrumental in designing and implementing sustainable, flexible building systems that support both current hospital operations and future healthcare delivery.”

Patient Room at the Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital's Inpatient Tower Addition

This award-winning addition successfully advances Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s mission by expanding access to high-quality care, integrating seamlessly with existing infrastructure, and establishing a resilient foundation for future growth and innovation in community healthcare.