Boston – Kaplan Construction announced its recent adaptive reuse of CALA, the former Powder House Community School in Somerville, Mass., has been recognized with awards from the Massachusetts Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC MA) and Engineering News-Record (ENR).
Kaplan was honored with an Excellence in Construction Award (EICA) from ABC MA. The company received an Eagle award, the highest level of recognition that can be bestowed by ABC, in the renovation category at its annual awards gala on Nov. 17.
In addition, at ENR’s Best Regional Projects award ceremony on Nov. 19, Kaplan was honored with ENR New England’s Best Project Award in the Renovation/Restoration category and was selected as a finalist for New England’s Overall Project of the Year. ENR’s Best Regional Project Awards are dedicated to honoring the best construction projects and the companies that designed and built them in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Located at 1060 Broadway, CALA is a 91,000sf inclusive, intergenerational urban village with 48 residences with accessible green space. In 2017, Kaplan was hired to provide preconstruction and construction management services and worked closely with the architect, co-owner, and developer, Sebastian Mariscal Studio, to create a campus-style environment. The former school building sits on a compact two-acre parcel and including 55+ senior living and artist live/work units, with 20% of the 48 units designated as affordable. Five commercial properties span over 23,000sf.
A public park adds a half-acre of usable green space for the residents of Somerville. Designed and constructed in partnership with the city, the park features the restoration of a neighborhood path, the city’s first public bike repair station, and a significant number of native plants, including 16 new trees. The project achieves 29 of the 39 goals set by SomerVision, the city’s 20-year plan for evolution into a model for urban planning, smart growth, open space, public transit, sustainability, diversity, artistry, and community.
The project team members include MarKa/Sebastian Mariscal Studio, co-owner/developer; Sebastian Mariscal Studio, architect; Kaplan Construction, construction manager; Foley Buhl Roberts, structural engineer; Wozny/Barbar & Associates, MEP/FP engineer; EBI Consulting, civil engineer; and GroundView, landscape architect.
