Over the span of three weeks, I’ll have visited and conducted PR efforts at three different colleges on behalf of our client, BOND. This more-than-a-century-old, family-owned construction management firm always has several projects happening in its pipeline, many of which are taking shape on college campuses across New England. They take the form of dorms, dining halls, academic learning centers, and athletic buildings. And they all have one thing in common – they are designed to better accommodate the growing needs of students, faculty and staff who call these respective campuses their (temporary) homes away from home.
In the case of BOND, our PR insights and savvy are best applied to three different stages of the construction process: groundbreakings, topping off ceremonies, and formal dedications. In October, my PR travels have already taken me to Stonehill College in Easton for dedication of the new, spacious Rev. Mark T. Cregan C.S.C. Athletic and Fitness Center at the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex; and Bryant University in Rhode Island for the “topping off” of the campus’ new 50,000 square-foot Academic Innovation Center. This week, we visit New Bedford for the groundbreaking of UMass Dartmouth’s new, state-of-the-art School of Marine Science and Technology (SMAST).
Seeing these projects come to fruition is seeing campus’ thrive in real time. I always joke about how I’ve visited more colleges now than I ever did when I first applied to them nearly 15 years ago. I’ve grown accustomed – apart from drafting media advisories and releases about these events – to making sure core members of BOND’s project team are in photos alongside college management and local dignitaries. These three schools are just the tip of the collegiate iceberg. I’ve also followed BOND to Harvard University, Fitchburg State University, and the Wentworth Institute of Technology.
From shovels in the ground to beams in the air, I am at the ready with my camera to capture the work in progress. Hopefully they best demonstrate instances when it’s actually fun to go to school!
-Ira Kantor, Senior Account Executive
(Photos by Ira Kantor)
Stonehill Groundbreaking
Stonehill Topping Off
Stonehill Dedication
Bryant Groundbreaking
Bryant Topping Off
