Nora, Author at Group14 Engineering

Group14 Names Celeste Cizik as CEO and President

Posted on February 2, 2022February 10, 2022 by Nora

Group14 is pleased to announce that Celeste Cizik, Existing Buildings Service Director and Principal, has been promoted to Group14 Engineering’s CEO and President. Sue Reilly, who founded Group14 in 1993, will remain with the company and continue to lead the Energy Team and support the firm through the end of 2023.

Cizik’s appointment, and the continuation of Michael Levinson, Matt Cooper and Laura Charlier as Principals and Officers, ensures Group14 will remain a client-focused, women-owned small business dedicated to energy efficiency and sustainable solutions for the built environment.

Celeste joined Group14 Engineering in 2014, and has served as Chief Operating Officer and Existing Buildings Services Director. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, where she earned both her MBA and Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Engineering. Cizik has over 19 years of experience in the building systems field which includes management of large teams and multi-million-dollar energy projects.

“Celeste is the natural choice to lead Group14 going forward,” said Reilly. “Celeste, along with Laura, Matt and Michael and the entire staff, exemplify the compassion and commitment that are hallmarks of this firm.”

“On behalf of the staff and principals at Group14, we want to thank Sue for her exemplary leadership and incredible legacy.” said Cizik. “We look forward to continuing Sue’s commitment to improving the built environment and expanding diversity within the engineering industry.”

Reilly founded Group14 Engineering (aka Enermodal Engineering, Inc.) in 1993, with a focus on energy modeling. Today, Group14 has 50 employees specializing in sustainable design, energy efficiency, and building commissioning.

Group14 is headquartered in Denver, Colorado with projects across the United States. We are a women-owned business, a B Corp and a Just Organization.

Group14 Bolsters Building Enclosure Capabilities with Strategic Hire

Posted on September 22, 2021October 1, 2021 by Nora

Alex Kosis, P.E. has joined Group14 Engineering, PBC to lead our building enclosure consulting. Alex has over 13 years of experience in the field and has worked on hundreds of BECx projects. He has designed, investigated, and rehabilitated building enclosure systems of all types.

Alex is a recognized expert in the field of roofing, weatherproofing and hygrothermal analysis. He is an active member of ASTM D08 – Committee for Roofing and Waterproofing. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architectural engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

“We are thrilled to welcome Alex to the team, and we are confident his enclosure expertise and leadership will be a tremendous asset as we move forward on a path to expand our building enclosure offerings,” said Matt Cooper, Group14’s Commissioning Director.

In his new role with Group14, Alex will provide services related to new and existing installations of enclosure systems, emphasizing the design and quality assurance required for a sound building envelope.

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We sat down with Alex to learn more about why BECx is so vital to the building process, his favorite project and why he is excited about working at Group14.

Why is building envelope commissioning (BECx) such an integral part of the building process?

Water intrusion accounts for over 70% of all construction claims, whereas the building enclosure typically accounts for only 10-25% of a building’s initial cost. BECx helps reduce the disproportionate risk associated with the construction of building enclosure systems, with the additional benefits of improved energy performance and occupant comfort.

How many enclosure projects have you worked on, and do you have a favorite?

I’ve worked on hundreds of enclosure projects over my career. My favorite project is the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University. In addition to being the only project in my career that I spent over 2,000 hours on, the entire project team rallied behind the mission and importance of the project to the surrounding community. The building enclosure design made no sacrifices in aesthetics or performance and the end result was a LEED Platinum project that serves as a landmark on Stanford’s campus and the Bay Area as a whole.

What is the most important step in or aspect of the BECx process?

Establishing a basis-of-design, and the associated performance expectations, at the front end of a project with the Owner, Design Team, and Construction Team. It’s important to understand that there’s no “one size fits all” with enclosure design.

What excites you most about working for Group14?

I’ve always enjoyed working with motivated and talented teams to complete the projects that ultimately form the skyline and fabric of the communities that I’ve lived in. At Group14, I’m also able to gain satisfaction knowing that I work for an organization that is pushing the industry toward greener building practices, from design through occupancy.

Finally, how did you end up in Denver, and how do you spend your time away from work?

Like many in Denver, I moved here seeking the mountains and sunny weather. On weekends, you can probably find me road tripping with my vintage camper, hiking, skiing, fly fishing, or binge-watching true crime shows. During the week, I try to sweat at least once a day (exclusive of project deadlines), read, walk my dog, and cook.

Catalyst HTI Awarded Prestigious WELL Core & Shell Certification

Posted on June 30, 2021June 30, 2021 by Nora

Group14 is proud to announce one of its sustainability projects, Catalyst Health-Tech Innovation, has achieved WELL Core & Shell Certification at the Silver Level. The prestigious certification was awarded by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).

Designed by the Beck Group, the 180,000-square-foot, seven-story core and shell office building includes numerous design elements that promote the health and well-being of its occupants.

To be awarded WELL Core & Shell Certification, Catalyst HTI underwent rigorous testing and evaluations, earning the distinction based on seven categories —Air, Water, Light, Nourishment, Fitness, Comfort and Mind.

Features that helped the project achieve WELL Silver Certification include:

Light: The facility was designed with large, fixed windows to take advantage of site orientation and capture natural light. Lighting systems were also designed to minimize glare caused by electric light sources.
Air: The building promotes clean air through a variety of measures. These measures include moisture management, VOC reduction and construction pollution management.
Water Quality: Safe and clean water was achieved through the implementation of filtration techniques that eliminated contaminants.
Opportunities for Fitness: The office features a bike shop, ample bicycle storage, a workout area and locker rooms.

Located in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood, Catalyst HTI is a one-of-a-kind, co-working office that brings together health care entities, tech companies, nonprofits and academic organizations under one roof.