
Kaplan Construction Completes Campus Expansion for Bellesini Academy
The two-story, 5,800 SF addition will provide a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) Center for all students with a science lab, technology center, art center, movement center for yoga and dance, and an alumni lounge, as well as a hallway with four classrooms dedicated to the girls’ program. The ground up construction, built on the site of a former rectory, was connected to the existing school.
“We are thrilled to have expanded our campus. Bellesini Academy has quickly earned a reputation for delivering a high quality education, and the added space dedicated to embracing the components of STEAM academics and allowing us to welcome more students will help us sustain our advanced program as we continue to grow,” said Julie DiFilippo, head of school of Bellesini Academy. “Kaplan recognized the challenges we face as a tuition-free school and did their part to keep us on budget and on schedule.”
Bellesini Academy was founded in 2002 to provide a tuition-free, Catholic middle school education to boys in grades five through eight. In 2015, Bellesini Academy expanded to a co-ed program. Its academically challenging and highly structured environment develops the potential for each student to succeed in competitive secondary schools and colleges, with 100 percent of its graduates attending private high schools on scholarship.
Project team members included:
- Cornerstone Architects of Westford, Mass. – Project Architect
- Feldman Development Partners of Andover, Mass. – Owner’s Rep
- Ipswich River Engineering of Middleton, Mass. – Structural engineer
- Reid Mechanical Corp of North Andover, Mass. – HVAC
- Rice & Brouillard Electric Inc. of Haverhill, Mass. – Electric
- Lynco Fire Protection Inc. of Burlington, Mass. – Fire protection
- Gaffny Plumbing of Methuen, Mass. – Plumbing
Kaplan Construction Welcomes Bill Slaney as Operations Manager

“At Kaplan, we emphasize the importance of meeting project deadlines and fulfilling the needs of our clients. Bill brings demonstrated expertise in tracking a number of different variables, including scheduling, cost control, quality management and safety, and the ability to delegate tasks as needed to accomplish these objectives,” said Nate Peck, president of Kaplan Construction. “With his diligent attention to detail and efficiency, Bill will help ensure our projects continue to finish on time and on budget. We are thrilled to add him to our team.”
Bill brings extensive construction experience from his years as a self-employed general contractor on the South Shore of Boston as well as over fifteen years at Turner Construction. He served many roles at Turner, including project controls/scheduling manager, MEP engineer, field engineer, project superintendent, and, most recently, general superintendent. During his time he was involved in several high-profile projects, including the Chase Center at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD); the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Investment Management Company (MITIMCo); the New England Aquarium’s Giant Ocean Tank; Massachusetts General Hospital Paul S. Russell, M.D. Museum of Medical History and Innovation; and the Massachusetts General Hospital Lunder Building.
Bill earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from the Wentworth Institute of Technology, holds Massachusetts, Boston, Cambridge, and Quincy Construction Supervisors Licenses, and is OSHA certified.
Kaplan Construction Recognized as a Top 100 Women-Led Business in Massachusetts by The Commonwealth Institute

TCI was founded in 1997 to help women-led businesses in Massachusetts become and stay successful. TCI’s membership includes CEOs, senior corporate executives, entrepreneurs, executive directors of nonprofits and solo professionals who are committed to building successful businesses, organizations and careers. Since 2002, TCI has created a list of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses to highlight the achievements of these women throughout the state. As of 2016, there were an estimated 11.3 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., employing nearly nine million people and generating more than $1.6 trillion in revenues. Between 2007 and 2016, the number of women-owned firms increased by 45 percent, compared to just a nine percent increase among all businesses, according to the 2016 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report commissioned by American Express OPEN.
“Women-led businesses are one of the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. economy, breaking down barriers and serving as a powerful driving force behind our economy,” said Jane Kaplan Peck, majority owner and chief operating officer (COO) at Kaplan. “It is a tremendous honor to be included again among so many successful and impressive women-led businesses in our great Commonwealth.”
Kaplan was certified as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2014, and has since ranked annually as a Top 100 Women-Led Business in Massachusetts by The Commonwealth Institute (TCI). Kaplan was recognized in 2017 as one of the Best Places to Work by the Boston Business Journal (BBJ) for the third year in a row, and as a Massachusetts Family Business of the Year by the Northeastern University Center for Family Business for contributing positively to the economic strength of the Commonwealth. The firm was also recently ranked by the Boston Business Journal as the 13th largest minority and women-owned business in Massachusetts, moving up three spots since 2016. Of the 20 companies that appeared on both the 2016 and 2017 lists, Kaplan ranked first in growth with a revenue increase of 74.28 percent.
Founded in 1976, Kaplan Construction’s highly experienced staff has worked together for many years, building a strong resume of renovation and new construction projects along the way. The company’s long history of professional teamwork and collaboration, combined with detailed planning and thoughtful execution, provides clients with optimal results: well-built, cost-effective, and timely projects.
Kaplan’s services include preconstruction, general contracting, construction management, and design/build. Kaplan serves a variety of clients, including commercial, healthcare, historic rehab, institutional, recreational, and worship. Recent projects include the Hyde Square Youth Community Development Center; Bellesini Academy; Castle Island Brewing Company; Congregation Kehillath Israel; and Tilia, a 49,300 SF sustainable urban living community in Jamaica Plain, Mass.
Kaplan Construction is a 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, 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. For more information, please visit www.kaplanconstructs.com.