NEI Quarterly: Q4, 2022

Northeast

QUARTERLY

2022: A Year in Review

Things in 2022 seemed to change on a rapid-fire, daily basis where old norms were thrown away to accommodate the current needs of the day.

NEI's André Barbour Named one of BBJ's 40 Under 40 Barbour is the face of and driving force behind NEI’s workforce diversity and inclusion initiatives.

2022 Project Highlights

See some of NEI's successful project completions from 2022.

A Mixed-Use Development Overlooking Polar Park

NEI, along with V10 Development and The Architectural Team (TAT) recently broke ground on The Cove, a seven-story 210,000 square foot building located at 89 Green Street in Worcester, MA. This new mixed-use development overlooks Polar Park, the home of the Worcester Red Sox.

NEI's André Barbour Honored by

BBJ

André Barbour, NEI's Diversity and Inclusion Director, has been selected as one of the Boston Business Journal’s (BBJ) 2022 40 Under 40 honorees. Barbour was recognized at an awards gala on Oct. 20 at the Boston Park Plaza in Boston.

Barbour is the face of, and driving force behind NEI’s workforce diversity and inclusion initiatives. His goal is to maximize the participation of local, emerging, womenowned, and minority-owned construction firms on all NEI projects. He also is dedicated to creating and expanding recruitment and workforce development and hiring workers from the communities where projects are located.

Barbour’s efforts to promote equitable workforce utilization in construction has resulted in hundreds of people from local communities being employed on construction projects over the past five years. Since he joined NEI, the company has constructed over $400 million in affordable housing in the city of Boston. With Barbour’s dedication and commitment to equity and inclusion, over $170 million (43%) in contracts has been awarded to minority-owned businesses and over $50 million (13%) has been awarded to women-owned businesses.

One of Barbour’s accomplishments during his

ANDRÉ BARBOUR

tenure at NEI, is the development and launch of the Workforce Opportunity Resource Center (WORC²), which opened in 2021, at 2103 Washington Street in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood. Designed to engage minority-owned subcontractors and the local workforce, WORC² offers free “one-stop shopping” resources and technical support to promote worker development, business capacity building, and growth in the local construction community.

“The ability to foster new and established relationships to create access and opportunities for diverse businesses and workers in the construction industry motivates me every day,” said Barbour. “Community engagement and relationships are an important part of my role. Building long term relationships with diverse businesses and workers is essential to building a more equitable industry.”

2022

A YEAR IN REVIEW

FEBRUARY

NEI launched a rebrand with the mission we have always hadbuilt for good.

MARCH

NEI broke ground on a new Southeast office.

JUNE

NEI made the ENR Top 400.

THE PRYDE: Construction is underway on New England's first LGBTQ-friendly senior affordable housing development.

Location: Hyde Park, MA Owner: Pennrose

JULY

NEI was named one of Massachusetts' Top Charitable Contributors by Boston Business Journal.

We are living in unprecedented times and being able to “pivot” has become the new success model in the building industry. This business has always been one of shifting priorities and being able to keep up with those moves has been the cornerstone to success. Through all those shifting priorities and pivoting, NEI has still been able to deliver projects to our valued partners, while having several special moments and milestones throughout the year.

In 2022, NEI completed a total of

2,257

AUGUST

André Barbour: NEI Diversity and Inclusion Director, André Barbour was named one of Boston Business Journal's 40 Under 40.

NEI hired its 200th employee, Jason Hayes.

SEPTEMBER

Project Awards

OLMSTED GREEN

• 2022 MHIC Award of Excellence in Racial Equity and Inclusion

MARY D. STONE APARTMENTS

• 2022 Affordable Housing Finance Readers’ Choice Awards Top Prize

808 MEMORIAL DRIVE

• 2022 Built Environment Plus Award for Sustainable Building Renovation

Units of

Housing

NEI officially opened a Southwest office in Houston, Texas.

OCTOBER

NEI was named one of Boston's Best and Brightest Companies to work For® for the sixth year in a row.

DECEMBER

808-812 MEMORIAL DRIVE: NEI completed its largest project to date, the occupied renovation of a 300-unit affordable housing complex.

Location: Cambridge, MA Owner: Homeowners Rehab

Things in 2022 seemed to change on a rapid-fire, daily basis where old norms were thrown away to accommodate the current needs of the day...

A Mixed-Use Development Overlooking Polar Park

NEI, along with V10 Development and The Architectural Team (TAT) recently broke ground on The Cove, a seven-story 210,000 square foot building located at 89 Green Street in Worcester, MA. NEI is providing preconstruction and construction management services for the project. This new mixed-use development overlooks Polar Park, the home of the Worcester Red Sox, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. Construction is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024.

Located in Worcester’s dynamic Canal District and abutting the recently opened Polar Park baseball stadium, The Cove will consist of 173 upscale, market-rate apartments and 16,000 square feet of retail space which will include Flatbread Pizza and a candlepin bowling venue on the two lowest floors.

“We selected NEI for its experience and success building in dense urban communities. NEI proved to be extremely helpful at creating efficiencies through their preconstruction services in a rapidly changing economy,” said John Tocco, Managing Partner and COO at V10 Development. "TAT has been an invaluable partner to our company; we respect their extensive knowledge within this sector and are excited about the design solution we have developed together. Our teams have great synergy and a mutually rewarding working relationship."

The existing vacant site adjacent to Polar Park will require extensive excavation and support of excavation to construct below-grade parking and amenity space. NEI has begun sitework operations including preparation for the shoring installation and subsequent export of 30,000 tons of soil. Throughout construction, NEI will coordinate closely with Polar Park on game days.

“This project will turn vacant land and abandoned buildings into destination housing,” said Josef Rettman, President of NEI General Contracting. “Worcester is one of the most competitive housing markets in the state with so much to offer residents. We are excited to be a part of this project and to bring more housing to Central Massachusetts.”

The building is thoughtfully designed for optimal views of the adjacent Polar Park

and incorporates an expansive outdoor courtyard, third-level amenity spaces, and a seventhlevel lounge and roof decks –creating a seamless, light-filled indoor-outdoor environment for residents. The upper floors are programmed with studios, one-and-two-bedroom units, and dedicated resident amenities. The interior design of the building is inspired by Sir Morgan’s Cove, a music venue that once occupied the site and hosted bands like The Rolling Stones in the 70s and 80s –embracing a rock-and-roll glamor aesthetic.