DCAMM 2024 Year in Review

The William E. Powers Exterior Envelope project began in March 2024, featuring the replacement of the exterior curtain wall windows with new aluminum-clad, energy-efficient windows and repairs to the building’s granite façade. The upgraded windows incorporate Low-E glazing technology, reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer by up to 50%. These improvements create a more comfortable and productive environment for occupants while delivering significant energy cost savings.

Additional improvements in and around the William E. Powers Building: 

• New wayfinding signage.
• Pavement repairs to surface parking lots, and parking garage entrances.   
• Concrete repairs to courtyard walkways, and stairs. 
• Carpeting upgrades to the 2^nd, 3^rd, & 4^th floor common areas. 

The RI State House has undergoneextensive work including a complete remodel of administrative offices, LED lighting and heating control upgrades throughout the facility. The state name change, with the removal of the word ‘Plantations’, has been completed for elevator doors, bronze senate vestibule plaque, replacement of the stateroom’s carpet, and replacement of the granite state seal outside the sub-basement employee entrance.  

Other minor upgrades throughout the facility include:

• Installation of new touchless Chicago style faucets.
• Installation of card access control at the basement stair entryways.
• Plans to address roof drainage issues.
• Restoring of the wood exterior entry doors and hardware. 

Oversight for the Shepard Building in downtown providence was transferred from the University of Rhode Island to DOA/DCAMM in July of 2024 when URI vacated this facility. DCAMM quickly stood up facility management and maintenance operations in support of six new state agencies taking up residency in this historic building.   

The Arrigan Rehabilitation Center which supports the State of Rhode Island's Workers' Compensation System has received HVAC control upgrades through RI Energy, including a new and modernized Building Management System (BMS) allowing users to manage these systems remotely 24/7, 365 days a year. 

The Office of the State Medical Examiner’s (OSME) building renovation is scheduled for completion in the winter of 2024. In coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), DCAMM will oversee the relocation of personnel and equipment from the existing Chapin Health Lab facility on Capitol Hill to their new facility in Cumberland.  This modern and well-equipped facility continues to support the OSME’s mission of disease prevention while promoting the health and safety of all Rhode Islanders.

DCAMM is currently renovating the Old State House located on College Hill in Providence with completion expected in late 2025. The primary focus of this project is to enhance accessibility, ensuring that Rhode Island’s citizens can continue to enjoy this historic landmark. This facility also houses the Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission, which played a key role in securing federal grants to support this renovation.

A feasibility and construction planning study for HVAC modernization at the RI State House began in the fall of 2024. When complete in the summer of 2025, this report will inform the scope and scale of this project.  

Design services have been procured for both the ADA tunnel repair under the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the renovation of the restrooms within the William E. Powers Building. 

Recent legislative changes permit the temporary loan of state battle flags to approved federal and state agencies or museums that will either enhance the existing conditions of the flag(s) or promote the further education and public awareness of the valor of Rhode Island’s veterans. One Revolutionary War era flag has already been loaned to the National Museum of the U.S. Army where it will be on display through the summer of 2027.

Major improvements have been made to Adolf Meyer Hospital’s main entrance and ambulance entrance. 

The recently completed Benjamin Rush interior renovation project now accommodates several agencies, including the Offices of the Child Advocate, Mental Health Advocate, and the Department of Labor & Training’s (DLT) Hearing Board.

The Regan Hospital renovation, which includes ligature-resistant measures, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) upgrades will enhance this facility's ability to safely serve a diverse psychiatric population. This project is expected to continue through 2026.

A large-scale replacement of chillers and heating and cooling delivery equipment for the Department of Labor & Training’s (DLT) building complex began in the summer of 2024. This project, to enhance occupant comfort and improve the building’s overall performance is expected to continue through 2026.

The Infrastructure Upgrade Project is well underway with a focus on equipment upgrades in the Central Power Plant as well as electrical and steam distribution system upgrades over the next five years.

The Demolition Project design has been completed with the start of demolition of five vacant buildings beginning this spring of 2025.

A previously vacant ward at the Zambarano Hospital in Burrillville has undergone a major renovation as a dedicated Ventilator Unit.  This new unit will serve those ventilator patients who will be relocated from the Regan Hospital on the Pastore Center campus ahead of a larger renovation project scheduled for this hospital facility. 

Other projects on the Zambarano campus include:

• Replacement of shower room floors. 
• Interior painting (mobilization in Jan 2025).
• Large scale paving and lighting (design work to begin Jan 2025).
• Select building demolition (design will be complete winter 2024/25).
• LTACH new construction (design agent slated to be on board winter 2024/25).

Construction of the new Rhode Island State Police Southern Public Safety Complex, located in West Greenwich, began in the fall of 2024. This project involves the land development of 7 acres and construction of a new 35,000 SF facility to consolidate Rhode Island State Police services in the southern portion of the State. This site provides convenient access to Interstate 95. The facility will house an estimated 60-80 troopers and will provide a fully modern, state-of-the-art facility for State Police operations. Upon construction of this facility, the Hope Valley and Wickford barracks, built in the 1930s, will be decommissioned. Construction completion is anticipated in 2026.

Construction of the new DCYF Female Youth Residential Facility, located in Exeter, began in the summer of 2024. This project involves the land development of 11 acres and construction of a new 32,000 SF facility. The new facility will include 16 residential bedrooms, educational classrooms, clinical rooms, indoor and outdoor recreation areas, and support spaces for youth, staff, and families. Construction completion is anticipated in 2026.

Design work for Phase III of the Rhode Island Fire Training Academy is complete and public bid for construction has been let. The project involves a 6,000 SF addition for classrooms and tiered auditorium as well as new 8,500 SF fire station. There is also an option to add the construction of a new 2,000 SF storage building for Urban Search and Rescue adjacent to the facility. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2025.

A feasibility study for the renovation of the Stedman Government Center is set to conclude in the winter of 2024–2025. The findings will guide DCAMM/DOA in determining next steps, whether to renovate the existing structure or construct a new building to accommodate its current operations. In the interim, new individual A/C units have been installed throughout the building to compensate for the lack of a central A/C and DMV’s customer service center recently received new carpeting and painting improvements. 

The Ladd Campus’ Main Street has received new and efficient LED lighting upgrades.   

A recently completed Facility Condition Assessment project of the Group Home portfolio has provided the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH) with an accurate database of existing conditions.  This data provides the BHDDH team with a 10-year projection of capital project needs for prioritizing current and future repairs and/or renovations across this portfolio. 

Work has already begun with the full renovation of the Hallsville Road facility in Exeter and the Willow Lane facility in Portsmouth.   

• REAL ESTATE - DCAMM’s Real Estate Team assists client agencies with Disposition of Real Property via public auctions which recently resulted in the sale of a former BHDDH Group Home located at 2699 Wallum Lake Road in Burrillville. This team also assisted in the negotiation and renewal of leases for both the DMV Woonsocket office and the Department of Correction’s Pawtucket Probation Office for 5-year terms. 
• STATE FLEET - DCAMM’s State Fleet Team actively supports the Governor’s Executive Order 23-06 to lead by example in addressing climate change by increasing the number of Zero Emission Vehicles in the state fleet.  The goal is to have a state fleet consisting of 25% zero-emission vehicles by 2030, we are currently at 17.53% and growing.  State Fleet recently sold via surplus 183 older vehicles and pieces of equipment to date collecting $303,788.68.  State Fleet also reconditioned fuel depots by polishing fuel pumps, painting equipment and re-labeling of hardware.
• SECURITY - DCAMM’s Security Team manages a Life Cycle Management Program that supports the maintenance and update of security infrastructure in over 60 state facilities.  This program provides for upgrades to security systems prior to reaching the end of their useful life to maximize operational up time.  This includes server upgrades, new camera systems, and access control/card readers across the portfolio. 
• SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS (SLA) – DCAMM’s Integrated Facilities Management Team, in collaboration with its client agencies, have successfully implemented the remaining 16 Service Level Agreements (SLA) designed to deliver consistent and cost-effective facilities related services to our client agencies. The DCAMM Team now manages 50 SLAs across four campuses.     
• FACILITIES MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE – Under the leadership of the Department of Administration, DCAMM’s team of 90 facilities personnel has oversight for managing and maintaining an asset portfolio of 227 facilities totaling 4M S/F across five state campuses.  This includes both planned and unplanned work, performing regularly scheduled preventative maintenance as well as addressing emergencies that may arise.  The DCAMM Facilities Team interacts with our partner agencies daily while meeting the highest standards for health, safety, security, accessibility, energy efficiency and comfort for the state employees who occupy these buildings and the public they serve.