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Kaplan Construction Begins Renovation and Addition to Congregation Kehillath Israel
Kaplan’s preconstruction expertise and long resume of building houses of worship in Greater Boston were key factors in their early selection, despite the conceptual design still being developed. The five year preconstruction phase consisted of numerous design concepts, budget analyses, and brainstorming to craft the temple’s new mission and identity. Kaplan played the critical role of balancing the congregation’s vision with their fundraising efforts.
The interior renovations will require heavy structural modifications and the installation of new bathrooms and modern HVAC, mechanical, and lighting systems. An elevator will be installed to create an accessible means of travel between the original historic structure and its subsequent additions. The new addition will create a spectacular social hall with a catering kitchen and direct access from the Sanctuary for hosting wedding receptions, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and other special events. In 2016, Kaplan completed the exterior restoration to the congregation’s sanctuary and school, which were originally constructed in 1924. The project featured a new terra cotta tile roof, gutters, and main staircase to the Sanctuary, and required the production of cast stone pieces to match the original texture, color and architectural design to restore the masonry. As with many Kaplan projects, great care was taken to minimize the impact to the community, neighbors, and the congregation.
Congregation Kehillath Israel began as a small collective in 1911 and was granted a Charter by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1917. In celebration of its centennial year in 2017, Congregation Kehillath Israel has dedicated itself to creating a multi-generational, innovative and inclusive center for Jewish learning and worship, and has welcomed Congregation Mishkan Tefila to co-locate on its Brookline campus as it aspires to create an innovative model for urban Judaism for the next 100 years.
Project team members include:
- Handlin, Garrahan & Associates of Belmont, Mass.: Project architect
- WaypointKLA of Needham, Mass.: Owner’s rep
- Stantec of Boston: Landscape architect/civil engineer
- Energy Economics of Newton, Mass.: MEP engineer
- Foley Buhl Roberts & Associates, Inc. of Newton, Mass.: Structural engineer
- Building Envelope Technologies of South Easton, Mass.: Waterproof engineer
Kaplan Construction Completes Merrimack Valley YMCA Renovation
Kaplan refurbished the building’s lower level, adding classrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen and play space dedicated to the YMCA’s School Age Program. The second floor, which previously housed the after school program, was converted into the YMCA’s Preschool Program, with the addition of classrooms, bathrooms, and a kitchenette as well as the installation of updated sprinkler, fire protection and life safety systems. Once licensed, the School Age Program will serve up to 150 children during summer and school vacations with programming for children ages five to 13 from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Preschool Program will accommodate up to 80 children ages 2.9 to five years. The project was designed by Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype of Boston.
“We are committed to providing our community with healthy and safe options for child care. At the YMCA, there are four core values we teach: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Kaplan shares those values,” said Cathy Flynn, child care executive director of the Merrimack Valley YMCA. “Kaplan placed great emphasis on the safety of our guests and staff, and was extremely conscientious about managing construction noise and controlling the renovation process. They allowed us to remain fully operational during construction, and proved to be an excellent choice to support us in our mission to enlarge our facility so that we may provide more programs and services dedicated to youth care.”
Through careful coordination with the YMCA’s staff and programmers, Kaplan was able to phase work to minimize the impact on patrons and residents. The YMCA adjusted programs and times as needed to accommodate the work during the multi-phased construction project.
Design/build project team members included:
- Lynco Fire Protection, Inc. of Burlington, Mass.: Fire Protection
- Gaffny Plumbing & Heating of Salem, N.H.: Plumbing/HVAC
- Electrical Dynamics, Inc. of North Reading, Mass.: Electric
Kaplan Construction Recognized at Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Award Ceremony

The Massachusetts Family Business Awards program was created to promote and highlight some of the great achievements of Massachusetts-based, family-held businesses and entrepreneurs. The program annually presents awards to recognize businesses that include, or have included, more than one generation, and whose policies and business practices have had a positive impact on the business and community. For the last 11 years, recipients of the Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Awards have been selected by a panel of independent judges based on the following criteria: business success, positive business and family linkages, multi-generational family involvement, contributions to the community and industry, and innovative business practices or strategies.
“Kaplan was founded on family. While we have grown over the years, we have remained a family-based firm with a core staff, many of whom have been with us for 10, 20, or even 30 years, and a second generation of employees has come onboard,” said Jane Kaplan Peck, chief operating officer of Kaplan Construction. “We are honored to be recognized as a family-run business contributing positively to the economic strength of the Commonwealth.”
Kaplan was also recognized in June with its third annual Best Places to Work award by the Boston Business Journal (BBJ). The award honors companies creating the most enjoyable and meaningful work environments, based on anonymous employee surveys collected from companies in Boston.
In 2014 Kaplan was certified as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and it announced the culmination of a three-year management transition in which Jane Kaplan Peck was appointed chief operating officer (COO) and majority owner and Nathan Peck was promoted to president. Founders Ken and Cathy Kaplan serve as chairman of the board and senior advisor, respectively. Since the transition, the company has grown by 80%, and was named by The Commonwealth Institute as a Top 100 Women-led Business for two years in a row.
In honor of the celebration and to acknowledge the contributions that family businesses make to the Commonwealth, Governor Charles Baker proclaimed June 14 as Family Business Day.
Kaplan Construction is a WBE general contractor and construction management company that provides comprehensive building programs including preconstruction planning, construction management, design-build services, and general construction for commercial, healthcare, multi-family, worship, and institutional clients. Serving Greater Boston since 1976, Kaplan is dedicated to building trusted, long-lasting relationships with its staff and clients based on professional teamwork, personal service, and quality craftsmanship. The company’s proactive approach features lean building techniques and integrated project delivery (IPD) that often realize substantial cost savings and earlier completion dates for its clients, while its dedication to safety far surpasses industry standards. Kaplan has earned its reputation for excellent customer service and superb workmanship, and the company’s highly successful projects have garnered a long list of industry awards and repeat clients. For more information, please visit www.kaplanconstructs.com.