Meet BuildingEnergy Access: Cohort Two

Members of the second BuildingEnergy Access Cohort

BuildingEnergy Access is a NESEA initiative to support the work of WMBEs (women and minority-owned business enterprises) by connecting them with the resources of the NESEA community.

BuildingEnergy Access is an expansion of existing NESEA programs, supplemented with professional services from our program partner, HELM Construction Solutions. This program is designed to serve businesses led by people who have traditionally been underrepresented in the AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) space, including people of underrepresented gender and racial identities. At its core, BuildingEnergy Access is a cohort experience. Each of the two participant cohorts will become a new group in NESEA’s signature BuildingEnergy Bottom Lines program, our business-development program based on peer mentoring around improving each businesses’s triple bottom lines (people, prosperity, planet).

Cohort Spotlight: A Square Design

Each month, we'll introduce a participating company to the wider NESEA community through a spotlight interview. We recently sat down with Anddie Chan-Patera of A Square Design, a minority-owned and operated full-service, Boston-based interior architecture firm, offering design services and project management. We sat down to discuss the business and their participation in the BuildingEnergy Access program. Read more...

Ian Reed: So, to begin, could you share a thirty second description of your company and the work you do?

Anddie Chan-Patera: A Square Design is a Boston-based interior architecture firm working across commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects, with a strong focus on affordable and market-rate housing. Read more...

Meet BuildingEnergy Access, Cohort 2

Cohort 2, also known as Team TrAction, launched in 2025, and is specifically tailored for companies led by BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color, including Latinx-identifying) individuals. Companies in this cohort must be based in Massachusetts or actively working within the Commonwealth. The Cohort will run through summer 2026. We hope you will join us in welcoming these businesses into the NESEA community.

A Square Design | Boston, MA

A Square Design (ASD) is a Boston-based, MBE- and WBE-certified interior architecture firm. We create beautiful, functional, and inclusive spaces, specializing in multifamily housing—both affordable and market-rate—as well as commercial and residential projects. Our sustainable designs incorporate Passive House principles and smart material choices, promoting wellness and long-term value. ASD offers full-service design and project management, collaborating with skilled professionals to deliver high-quality, cost-effective results. We’re committed to expanding our impact across both private and public-sector residential projects by integrating Passive House standards that prioritize equity, sustainability, and community well-being.

You can read an interview with Anddie Chan-Patera of A Square Design here...

Sectors: Commercial, Multifamily, Single Family
Service Area: Entire Northeast Region
Professional Specialties: Conceptual Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Document Set, Construction Administration, Color Consultation, Custom Artwork & Graphic Design, Lighting Design/Specification

B. Alpha Construction | Chicopee, MA

B. Alpha Construction is a minority-owned and operated commercial insulation business that was founded in 2021 to provide better insulation and energy efficiency services to buildings throughout Western Massachusetts. 

You can read an interview with Mark Tajima and Yamil Brito of B.Alpha Construction here...

Sectors: Multifamily, Single Family, Industrial, Commercial, New Builds, Insulation, Weatherization
Service Area: Massachusetts
Professional Specialties: Construction, Weatherization Services, insulation

Bartholomew Lighting | Boston, MA

Bartholomew Lighting is an award-winning, Black-owned Architectural Lighting Design and Consulting firm. 

You can read an interview with Edward Bartholomew of Bartholomew Lighting here...

Sectors: Residential, Commerical, Civic, Industrial
Service Area: Massachusetts
Professional Specialties: Lighting

Chop Value | Boston, MA

We locally manufacture sustainable furniture, interior finishes, and gifts from previously discarded chopsticks. Annually, we divert 20 tons of material from Massachusetts landfills and repurpose it into climate-positive, carbon-neutral products.  Our microfactory is located in Charlestown/Boston; we are certified as a B Corp, woman- and minority-owned; sustainability certifications include Declare (Red List Free) and MAS Certified Green.

You can read an interview with Elaine Chow of ChopValue Boston here...

Sectors: Commercial, Institutional, Hospitality
Service Area: Massachusetts
Professional Specialties: Furniture Design, Interior Design

Pioneer Valley Organics Landscaping | Amherst, MA

We deliver high quality land care services in an ecological and creative manner. PVOL is a full service ecological landscaping and home improvement company. We practice organic lawn and plant health care. Our design is informed by permaculture principles focusing on edible landscaping and sustainability.

Sectors: Commercial, Private
Service Area: Pioneer Valley, MA
Professional Specialties: Landscaping, Health, Food Production

Ruben Valenzuela Architects | Boston, MA

I provide design and consulting services for sustainable ADUs and residential spaces that prioritize energy efficiency and wellness—both within the built environment and in harmony with the natural environment. My approach emphasizes the inherent relationship between your home and its surroundings, ensuring that every design supports sustainable living practices while promoting personal well-being.

I specialize in helping clients create safe, accessible spaces for aging in place or for those facing cognitive, neurological, or sudden health challenges. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are a vital part of this work, offering flexible, sustainable solutions that support independent living while remaining connected to family and community.

This is achieved by integrating science-backed design psychology, wellness principles, and research from healthcare environments to create healing, rejuvenating spaces. By applying proven strategies from hospital design to residential projects, I ensure that your home—whether it’s your primary residence or a thoughtfully planned ADU—serves as a true sanctuary: a safe, sustainable, and restorative place that enhances well-being for everyone who lives there.

Sectors: Single Family Homes, ADUs, Universal Design, Small Scale Commercial, Hospitality
Service Area: Massachusetts
Professional Specialties: Historic Preservation, Building Science and Diagnostics, Design Consulting

Samar Real Estate Solutions | Newton, MA

Samar Real Estate Solutions is the premier handyman and construction services provider in the Greater Boston area. With almost a decade of experience, we’ve seen it all. That’s why we cut the nonsense and get straight to work!

Sectors: Single Family, Institutional
Service Area: Greater Boston Area
Professional Specialties: General Contractor Services, Small Repair and Maintenance, Installations, Cleanings

Square and Plumb Builders | Gloucester, MA

Square & Plumb Builders is an established full-service remodeling and new construction-focused company that strives to be the best in our industry. We have been meeting the unique needs of our residential customers by using our talents to provide each of our clients with a place that they’re proud to call their own. Creating spaces for families to grow, friends to gather, and memories to flourish is our specialty, and we can’t wait to show you what we can do.

Sectors: Full service residential builder
Service Area: Massachusetts
Professional Specialties: Remodels, additions, new construction and small projects

Synergy Contracting, Inc. | Andover, MA

Here at Synergy Contracting Inc., we understand the importance of hiring the right company to help you succeed. A company that’s experienced, dependable, and has clear and constant communication with you at every phase of your project. We have the latest technology, the tools, and the experience to get the job done with the highest standards. We specialize in Environmental Remediation, Demolition, Painting, Final Cleaning, Labor Support and Construction Services. We’re WBE, MBE, DBE, and LGBTBE Certified. Our teams of knowledgeable professionals are here to complete your project on time. Our goal is to exceed your expectations. Just give us a call – We’ll take care of the rest.

 

Sectors: Commercial, Institutional, Industrial, Multifamily
Service Area: Massachusetts
Professional Specialties: Environmental Remediation, Demolition, Painting, Final Cleaning, Labor Support and Construction Services

Valley Home Insulation | Lawrence, MA

As a Massachusetts Home Performance Contractor, Valley Home Insulation delivers residential insulation and weatherization services to homes across Massachusetts. We work to better understand the needs of our customers and strive to perform high-quality work. Our goal is to help our customers experience long term utility cost savings and make their homes healthier and more comfortable.

 

Sectors: Residential
Service Area: Massachusetts
Professional Specialties: Weatherization Services, Residential Insulation