Two NEI General Contracting projects recognized by Mass. Historical Commission

Springfield, MA Two of NEI General Contracting projects have been recognized by the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s (MHC) 41^st Annual Preservation Awards, including the Paul & Niki Tsongas Award, the Robert Kuehn Award, and a People’s Choice Awards. In addition, a third project constructed by NEI – the Lenox Schoolhouse – was nominated for an award this year.

The MHC founded the Preservation Awards program in recognition of the challenge of preserving our national legacy, and a cultural heritage rich in historic resources. 

Maple Commons ~ Paul & Niki Tsongas Award and People’s Choice Award
With 11 separate buildings, including 173 apartments and a community building, the project spreads across two city blocks in the downtown Springfield Lower Maple Historic District. Built between 1910 and 1917 the four-story buildings were primarily brick with craftsman-style ornamentation. This past year, Maple Commons underwent a substantial renovation of all the buildings, including extensive site work. This is NEI’s seventh project with First Resource Development Company, Inc.

Since 1988 Preservation Massachusetts’ highest honor, the Paul & Niki Tsongas Award, has recognized the very best in historic preservation efforts, individuals, and achievements across the state of Massachusetts. 

Project team members include:

• Owner: First Resource Development Company, Inc.

• General contractor: NEI General Contracting

• Architect: The Architectural Team, Inc.

• Structural engineer: Waterman Consulting

• Civil engineer: Heritage Survey

• Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protecting (MEP/FP) engineer: South Shore Construction Consultants

• Historic consultant: Tremont Preservation Service, LLC

• Environmental consultant: Axiom Partners and Harvard Environmental

Bethany Apartments ~ Robert Kuehn Award
In its fourth project for the Planning Office for Urban Affairs, Inc. (POUA), a non-profit housing developer affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, NEI oversaw the historic adaptive re-use of the 56,000 s/f Kennedy Hall at Cardinal Cushing Center in Hanover, Mass. into 37 affordable and workforce housing units, which is now known as Bethany Apartments.

“We turned to NEI General Contracting for this project because of their expertise in and commitment to the preservation of historic and landmark properties,” said Bill Grogan, COO and general counsel for the Planning Office for Urban Affairs. 

Robert Kuehn, Jr. was actively involved in the process of drafting and passing the Community Preservation Act (CPA), signed into law in the fall of 2000. Kuehn was also one of the founders and main supporters of the Community Preservation Coalition and served as vice chair of its steering committee until his death in June of 2006.

Project team members include:

• General contractor: NEI General Contracting

• Architect: The Architectural Team (TAT)

• Civil engineer and Landscape Architect: Horsley Witten Group

• Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protecting (MEP/FP) engineer: Wozny Barbar & Associates

• Historic consultant: MacRostie Historic Advisors, LLC

• Owner’s rep: WaypointKLA, Inc.

“We are very proud that three of our projects were nominated this year – more than any other construction firm,” said Josef Rettman, principal of NEI General Contracting. “We are dedicated to the preservation of historic and landmark properties. These projects require both a thorough understanding of preservation techniques as well as careful planning for the integration of new elements into existing structures. We would like to congratulate all of the firms associated with projects nominated this year.”