December 2023
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Focus: Awards ABC MA Celebrates 2023 EIC Award Winners Norwood, MA – The Massachusetts Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC MA) celebrated its 31st Annual Excellence in Construction Awards, held at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Norwood on Nov 2. More than 200 people attended the event. In all, 14 projects were honored. Four won Eagle awards, which represent the pinnacle of achievement; eight won Merit awards, which is reserved for work that stands above the rest; and two won the Leadership award, which honors work that demonstrates leadership beyond the results on the jobsite that make a broader impact in the industry and the community. BW Kennedy & Co. received an Eagle Award in the General Contractor – Commercial – Over $5 Million category for the transformation of 580 Pleasant St. in Watertown. BW Kennedy was hired as the design/build contractor to convert the existing manufacturing building into a Class A multi-tenant lab building for client Griffith Properties. The 147,000sf, three-level building includes a half-level
basement and new rooftop mechanical penthouse. Designed by DiMella Shaffer, the entire facade of the building was reconstructed with a lab module, using curtainwall and architectural metal panels. The main entrance and thru building lobby are designed to provide abundant daylight and a direct visual connection from the front to the Charles River in the back. Challenges included unique site conditions, proximity to wetlands, an aggressive 16-month construction schedule, and COVID-19 impacts on product availability and cost escalation. Additionally, with the original structure having been constructed on a landfill, the work included a large demolition and hazardous abatement component. Metro Walls received an Eagle Award in the Specialty Contractor – Exteriors category for their role in the completion of Salem Heights in Salem, and were awarded for their extensive logistical coordination around the installation of the specialty 5-in-1 Composite Panel ArmorWall System, meticulous tiered interior renovation plan to accommodate the building’s occupants, and extraordinary safety precautions in the successful
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completion of the project, and their dedication to safety, customer satisfaction, and high-quality workmanship. Metro Walls also received a Merit Award in the Specialty Contractor – Interiors category for their role in the Southbridge Mills project, located in Southbridge, and were recognized for their ability to quickly adapt to unforeseen circumstances, their experience of working through challenges that old mill buildings bring, and their strategic approach to pre-planning in the overall completion of the affordable housing apartment complex. Erland Construction was recognized with an Eagle Award in the General Contractor Institutional category for its work on the Patterson-Sculley House (Residence Life Project) at St. Mark’s School. Erland teamed with Goody Clancy and Design Technique, Inc. to complete the new 90,000sf, 3-story all-electric residence hall, which houses a mix of single and double rooms for 150 students and 12 faculty apartments, a student lounge, eight group study rooms, 12 study nooks, and a “classroom-in-the-sky.” The building was designed to incorporate sustainable elements and constructed to meet St. Mark’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. Erland senior superintendent, Ken Tessitore, was
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also recognized at the ceremony for his involvement with the Gould Construction Institute. He was presented with the Paul McDonald Distinguished Teacher Award for his innovative teaching methods, dedication to fostering inclusive classrooms,
and relentless pursuit of helping students carefully develop their craft. Kaplan Construction received a Merit Award in the General Contractor – Institutional category for the Trust Early Learners project in Brookline. “The Trust Early Learners project stands as a testament to collaborative excellence, and it is fulfilling to be recognized for it,” said Nathan Peck, president of Kaplan Construction. “We overcame significant challenges during both preconstruction and construction, including nine rounds of pricing, a tight urban footprint, an abutting 170-year-old building, pandemic-related disruptions, and a fourth-floor terrace playground. Logistics planning, precise workflow, and continuous communication with abutters and neighboring businesses were crucial in delivering our client this state-of-the-art early education center.” Callahan Construction Managers received an Eagle Award in the General Contractor – Renovation category for its work on Squirrelwood Apartments, a 12-building, 88-unit affordable housing development located in Cambridge developed by Just-A-Start Corporation. Working in a densely populated area of Cambridge posed many challenges for this restoration project, including constructing an apartment building to Passive House standards, working with challenging soil conditions, and managing odd geometries at a site near other residential properties. “This recognition underscores Callahan’s dedication to creating affordable housing solutions that not only meet the needs of residents but also elevate the standards of construction excellence,” said ABC MA president, Greg Beeman. NEI General Contracting was recognized with a Merit Award in the General Contractor – Renovation category for its work on the occupied renovation of a 490,000sf affordable housing complex for Homeowners Rehab, Inc. (HRI). Located at 808-812 Memorial Drive in Cambridge, the Rivermark complex contains 88 apartments in a 10-story building, 212 apartments in a 19-story building, 38,000sf of commercial space, and five levels of parking. The project pursued and received an Enterprise Green Communities Certification, a program aimed at transforming the quality of affordable housing in America, meeting criteria related to integrated design, site improvement, resource conservation, operational energy considerations, and more. Dacon received an Excellence in Leadership Award for its work on the Monogram Foods and Edwards Vacuum facilities, both in Haverhill. Beeman commented, “Dacon’s work on two projects key to the downtown revitalization of Haverhill was an outstanding example of leading by example. Dacon collaborated with the city of Haverhill and the Commonwealth to make a lasting positive impact on the local community, and helped create 600 new jobs as well as provide support for local families and students.”