Dedham, MA – J&M Brown Company (JMB), a NECA Boston contractor headquartered in Dedham, recently completed two transformational, mixed-use developments in Jamaica Plain neighborhoods.
The Residences at Forest Hills, a six-story, 267,452sf mixed-use residential development at 3694 Washington Street, comprises three buildings housing 250 residential rental apartments. It includes market rate and affordable workforce development housing. There will be 4,700sf of ground floor retail space and a lower-level parking garage with 130 vehicle spaces, electric vehicle charging stations, and 250 covered bicycle spaces for residents. The project also includes a fitness center, theatre room, and amenity space with an outdoor patio.
The Residences at Forest Hills / Photo by Andrew Horvitz
JMB’s electrical scope entailed core and shell electrical construction, including the facility’s primary and emergency power, lighting, and fire alarm system. JMB’s low-voltage division, Spectrum Integrated Technologies, provided installation of the facility’s tel/data and security systems.
Dimeo Construction of Boston was the general contractor; Nitsch Engineering of Boston was the engineer; and the developer was Criterion Development Partners of Waltham.
The project team was headed by project executive Michael Booker and general foreman Corey Bizarro, managing a crew of 25 IBEW Local 103 electricians at peak construction.
“Prefabrication was critical to meeting the project schedule and budget,” Booker said. “All wiring and devices for the residential units were prefabricated in J&M Brown’s prefab facility.”
JMB was able to complete the 20-month phased project as scheduled on November 1, 2020 despite COVID-19 construction delays and stringent safety requirements throughout peak construction. The development is designed to achieve LEED Silver sustainability certification.
JMB also provided core and shell electrical construction at the new seven-story, 139,200sf office building on the Roxbury/Jamaica Plain line. The mixed-use, 1785 Columbus Ave. project includes 1500sf of ground floor retail and a two-level parking garage with 157 vehicle spaces.
JMB’s comprehensive scope included installation of the facility’s primary and emergency power, lighting and lighting control systems, and fire alarm system. Project manager Nelson Barrantes and project executive Michael Booker led the JMB project team, with an IBEW Local 103 crew upwards of 30 electricians at peak construction being supervised by Phil Talbot, general foreman.
The architect for the project was Embarc Studio of Boston; Commodore Builders of Waltham was the general contractor, and Watermark Development of Jamaica Plain was the developer. The project was completed in September 2020.
J&M Brown is celebrating its 100th year of operation, having been an integral part of the Jamaica Plain community since the company was founded, a century ago, in 1921.
