We’re thrilled to share the news of key team members stepping into new roles, marking a significant step in our company’s ongoing journey of innovation and leadership. These appointments reflect our commitment to growth and excellence:

Al Bustamante, PE has been promoted to Executive Vice President. In this role, Al will guide Walker’s continued innovation and set the standard for excellence in the industry. Al has over 20 years of experience in the evaluation, testing, and design repairs of a variety of structural, architectural, and material distress related projects.

Sean Connolly, RA, RBEC, RRC, RWC, REWC, CCS has been promoted to National Director of Building Envelope where he will focus on the innovation and continued excellence of our building envelope services. Sean’s expertise is in the entire building envelope including above- and below-grade waterproofing, exterior walls (including fenestration systems) and roofing for new and existing structures.

Nicholas Frezza, RA, NCARB in our New York City office, has been promoted to Director of Consulting. In his new role, Nick will oversee projects, grow the firm’s new design consulting practices, and employ his expertise to provide a positive impact for our clients on their projects. He has over 15 years of experience in parking garage design, master planning, parking planning, feasibility studies, parking operations, and technology consulting.

Matt Hunt, PE, has been promoted to Vice President. With Walker for 28 years, he serves as Walker’s National Technical Director for Forensics, Restoration & Building Envelope, maintaining and continually improving our technical quality for forensics, restoration, and building envelope projects, including designs, drawings, specifications, and reports, with the aim of continually improving service to our clients and developing staff.

Adam Levesque, PE is now a Principal of the firm. Adam is Director of Restoration in our Boston office and has over 20 years of experience in rehabilitating, assessing, and designing building structures. Adam’s responsibilities include client interface, project management, and restoration program development.

Chrissy Mancini Nichols is now a Principal of the firm. Chrissy Mancini Nichols is Walker’s National Director for Curb Management and New Mobility. She works with local and regional governments, transit agencies, and public-private partnerships to enhance transportation systems, optimize curb space, and drive sustainable urban mobility initiatives.

Jim Pudleiner, PE has been promoted to Managing Director of the Northeast Region, overseeing our Northeast regional offices, including new design, restoration, and study services. Jim plays an integral part in providing project planning, scheduling, and quality assurance to Walker’s clients.

Sepehr Sabooree, PE has been promoted to National Director of Property Condition Assessments where he will focus on the expansion of our Property Condition Assessment services. Sepehr has helped building owners to develop budgets to address identified issues and assist with the design repairs and restoration.

Mark Santos, PE, CAPP, is now a Principal of the firm. Mark is Director of Operations for Walker’s Fort Lauderdale office and has more than 22 years of experience in parking planning, design, and restoration.

Kevin White, AICP, CAPP, in our Minneapolis office, has been promoted to Director of Planning. In this role, he will oversee projects and growth of planning services. He specializes in parking and mobility planning, curbside management, and transportation demand management, with a focus on efficiency, user behavior, and the integration of all modes of transportation.

We are thrilled to announce that Walker’s Victor Hill and Ben Weber, have been featured in Parking & Mobility Magazine, a prestigious publication of the International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI). In their article, “Get to the Point”, Hill and Weber address the critical issue of urban mobility, specifically the challenge of reducing parking requirements and the necessity of making driving less convenient to foster sustainable, enjoyable, and affordable urban environments.

Our cities are often viewed as landscapes where personal vehicles dominate, and alternative modes of transportation are sidelined. Hill and Weber argue against this perception, highlighting the growing feasibility of walking, bicycling, public transit, and other forms of travel. They emphasize the importance of investing in these alternatives to create integrated, efficient, and user-friendly mobility networks. Their work sheds light on the innovative concept of “mobility wallets,” a pilot initiative in Los Angeles aimed at encouraging the use of diverse transportation modes through seamless trip planning and payment solutions. This approach not only supports low-income residents but also serves as a model for other cities and universities seeking to mitigate the challenges posed by single-occupancy vehicles and parking constraints.

Our company proudly supports this forward-thinking vision, recognizing that the path to more sustainable urban living requires a collective shift in how we view and utilize transportation. Hill and Weber’s contribution to Parking & Mobility Magazine underscores our commitment to leading the charge in reimagining urban mobility for a better, more sustainable future for our communities. To read more, check out Hill and Weber’s article.

We are proud to announce that John Dorsett, AICP, CPP, a Senior Director of Planning, Operations and Technology at Walker Consultants, has contributed a compelling article to Development Magazine, a reputable publication by NAIOP, The Commercial Real Estate Development Association. In the Winter 2023/2024 issue, Dorsett provides insightful analysis on “Rightsizing Parking in Support of Sustainability and ROI,” exploring how shared parking analyses can significantly save land, costs, and time in urban development projects.

Dorsett’s piece is a deep dive into the transformational potential of shared parking strategies, emphasizing how they can lead to more sustainable and cost-effective urban planning. This article highlights the necessity of rethinking parking space allocation in response to the changing dynamics of transportation and mobility. Dorsett’s expertise helps readers understand the economic and environmental benefits of rightsizing parking. He offers practical solutions and methodologies that can be adopted by developers to optimize their projects. The article is not only a testament to John Dorsett’s expertise in the field but also reflects our company’s commitment to pioneering sustainable and innovative urban development practices.

Winter weather conditions are starting, making it a great time to preemptively protect your parking structure with a condition assessment.

A parking structure condition assessment provides in-depth information on your structure, including areas in need of repairs that are important for its stability and longevity. A parking structure requires regular assessments and maintenance to keep it in use and extend the service life. The cost of structural repairs is exponential over time. An assessment at regular intervals can reveal issues before they become significantly more costly to repair.

How Can You Save Money and Time on Parking Structure Maintenance?

Watch this 45-minute presentation by one of Walker’s structural experts to learn about proactive strategies for parking structure asset management and repair.

Walker’s Senior Vice President Al Bustamante, PE covers common types of deterioration and explains why a proactive strategy saves money in the long run.

What is the benefit to hiring an engineer to assess your parking structure?

An engineer’s evaluation of your parking structure can reveal previously unknown deficiencies that can lead to safety hazards and costly repairs. These professionals carefully inspect the exterior structural walls, structural columns, structural support beams, and the exposed portions of foundations to assess the level of deterioration and to provide a recommended prioritization of repairs for you. An engineer can also provide a maintenance repair program to help you plan and budget for repairs.

How can Walker help?

Nationwide, Walker’s condition assessments, asset management plans, and repair designs have been helping government, private, and institutional clients extend the lifespan of their facilities for over 55 years.

Walker’s five- and ten-year asset management plans are tailored to meet the needs of facility managers, developers, and owners, including institutional clients with multiple buildings or parking structures.

Our strategies provide owners with effective planning and budget management tools to maximize available funds for maintenance and repair. The plan includes a baseline evaluation of the existing condition, subsequent periodic repair and restoration, recommendations, opinion of probable cost, and an update of maintenance components based on remaining service life.

Walker’s façade experts can assist you with your New York City FISP inspections (formerly Local Law 11) and The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) report filings.

Navigating NYC’s FISP, formerly known as Local Law 11, can be a complex process. Walker’s seasoned experts can guide you through every step of façade inspections and repairs, all while adhering to the stringent New York City regulations and requirements. Let us assist you in keeping your building up to the mandated standards.

Need assistance with façade inspections in New York City? Reach out now!

Walker has a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI) design professional, certified by the New York City Department of Buildings, to perform these inspections.

Contact our QEWI

Sara C. Holcomb, PE, QEWI

Sara has worked on numerous façade inspection and restoration projects throughout the five boroughs of New York City, for commercial, residential, hospitality and historic properties.

What Your FISP Filing Status Means

Understanding your building’s façade status—whether SAFE, SWARMP, or UNSAFE—is vital in maintaining its integrity. The FISP report provides a comprehensive insight into the condition of your building’s exterior. Our QEWI certified professional can help you analyze and address your building’s unique façade conditions and assist you in planning necessary actions according to the classification in the report.

The procedures of the FISP program are described in the 1 RCNY §103-04 Chapter 100 Subchapter C Maintenance of Buildings. The NYC DOB also provides a map of filing statuses. 

FISP Report Deadlines

The scheduling of FISP report due dates is directly linked to the last digit of your building’s block number.

Regardless of where your building is in the filing cycle, our consultants are on hand to support you in developing a prioritized action plan, facilitating seamless filings and timely repairs in accordance with the necessary obligations.

Collaborate with our experienced team for tailored façade repair and filing plans.

Missed FISP Filing Deadline

Missing the FISP filing deadline can lead to substantial penalties. It’s critical to respond quickly to avoid additional charges. Contact our team as soon as possible to identify the best course of action to achieve compliance swiftly, helping to prevent further penalties and maintain the safety standards of your building.

Missed the deadline? Contact our team immediately to rectify the situation.

Post-FISP Report Actions

Once your FISP report has been filed, promptly address any conditions marked as UNSAFE. Walker Consultants is prepared to be your ally throughout the process, from strategizing and initiating necessary repairs to submitting an amended “SAFE” report. We’ll help you meet requisite safety standards.

Our team has you covered, from building envelope to parking structure. Contact our full-service team today.

Sara Holcomb, PE, QEWI

Senior Restoration Consultant

Katarzyna Burzynska, AIA

Building Envelope Consultant

Ibrahim Erdem, PhD, PE, SE

Director – Forensics, Restoration and Building Envelope

The Fresno County community-census-designated place of Biola, CA,  one of the poorest U.S. communities with a 42 percent poverty rate and some of the worst air pollution, lacks a fully-developed infrastructure with social amenities and requires that residents travel to nearby cities for essential services such as groceries, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare, without a reliable transit option. Residents rely on private vehicles for travel, and many spend a disproportionately high percentages of their income on transportation.

To address the poverty issue, Walker worked with the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA) to plan and implement an innovative, low-cost electric vehicle micro-transit service.  The micro-transit service includes transportation provided on demand and without adherence to a fixed schedule. A generous grant supplied by the League of Women Voters of Fresno is helping subsidize rides for residents. This micro-transit service provides a lower-cost alternative to traveling via private automobile.

The plan’s outcome resulted in the addition of a dedicated micro-transit electric vehicle and EV charging station located at the Biola Community Services Center.

Walker’s plan development included multiple outreach efforts in Biola to gain input to plan the electrified, micro-transit service.

A Property Condition Assessment (PCA) helps the current or future owner to understand the facility and provides them with a roadmap for potential repairs and upgrades to extend the service life of the facility.

Aimed at building owners, developers, and investors, a PCA outlines the overall condition of the facility for better understanding of a facility’s condition prior to an asset transaction.

Our PCA team is familiar with all site, building components, and typical systems to provide a holistic report. Additionally, if needed, a more in-depth assessment can be performed that could include Walker’s structural, parking structure, building envelope, and MEP specialists.

A PCA is conducted using ASTM standard E2018-15. Walker conducts interviews, reviews documents, and performs a walk-through visual survey to document a property’s physical attributes and deficiencies. Our consultants evaluate the site conditions and in-place building systems, including the roof, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. A PCA’s scope also includes the evaluation of elevators, interior finishes, fire suppression systems, and site and building accessibility access. A PCA provides a comprehensive review of a facility’s complex building systems.

During the assessment in the field, our consultants use tools such as a laser measurer to determine building heights, measure overhead door openings, structural bay spacings, clear ceiling heights at warehouse areas, a digital level to record slope and cross-slope percentages along accessible paths-of-travel and field checklists. These tools aid us in developing a detailed report that informs our clients in their decisions.

Our reports provide information that clients can use during negotiations, for financing, and to estimate life-cycle replacement costs for site and building components. PCAs are an invaluable tool that current or future owners can use to address any immediate building repairs, such as roof leaks, or replacement of in-place building systems, such as mechanical equipment, based on anticipated useful service life.

Our guiding principle is to provide value through exceptional quality of work and attention to detail. PCAs can save our clients time and money by providing a report that not only details the property’s existing physical attributes but one that provides them with a roadmap for potential repairs and upgrades to extend the facility’s service life.

ADA, FHA, UFAS

Our consultants are adept professionals who perform accessibility reviews on varied building types against the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA), and Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). Our consultants can guide clients through the intricacies of accessibility to determine the necessary requirements and parameters essential to conform to required standards and identify associated costs.

Client (Owner) Representation

As the Client’s representative, Walker serves as a liaison to safeguard the Client’s investment and aid through all phases of project development. Whether acting as an additional set of eyes on a peer review of construction contract documents or conducting periodic site visits to observe construction progress as it relates to submitted Applications for Payment, our knowledgeable staff is ready to step in to assist the Client throughout this challenging process.

Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing

An ASHRAE energy audit, or American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers energy audit, is a key measure to improve facility energy efficiency. Our capable consultants can perform ASHRAE Level 1 (Walk-Through) and ASHRAE Level 2 (Energy Survey) audits. An ASHRAE Level 1 audit involves conducting interviews with facility managers, a facility inspection, and a review of utility bills to identify no- or low-cost opportunities for energy savings and areas of energy waste. An ASHRA Level 2 audit affords facility owners and managers with a more detailed building characteristics survey as well as an energy usage and cost analysis using available information, various diagnostic testing including lighting level assessment and duct leaking testing, and with the collected information, our consultants will draft a proposed energy savings plan.