BOSTON – May 5, 2020 – Kaplan Construction, a WBE general contractor and construction management firm providing comprehensive building programs across Greater Boston, announced today that it has been selected to fit out a 40,000 SF early childhood center and headquarters for Horizons for Homeless Children, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of young homeless children and their families. Construction is expected to start later this spring and be completed in early 2021.
Located at 1785 Columbus Avenue in Roxbury, Massachusetts and designed by studioMLA Architects, the new early childhood center will consolidate three existing centers into one. Serving 225 children ranging in age from two months to five years, it will include a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activity space, a family library and literacy center, flexible community and training space, and an art room. Indoor and outdoor spaces will incorporate trauma-informed design strategies to better serve children and families living in difficult situations. Two outdoor play areas totaling 10,000 SF were designed with the help of an occupational therapist and will be constructed on dedicated above-ground surfaces. Kaplan will only be able to access the space from street level and will take on the added challenge of having to clear a 10-foot-high wall over the roof’s parapet.
“We are very excited to expand our reach and provide services to more children and their families in a space expressly designed for the needs of families experiencing homelessness ,” said Kate Barrand, CEO of Horizons for Homeless Children. “Kaplan has a long and successful history of building quality childcare centers for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. They really understand our mission and how our spaces will be used.”
The early childhood center will be a part of the 140,000 SF Horizons Center, a unique public/private joint venture that will create a single and accessible home for social services agencies dedicated to transforming the education, health, and well-being of at-risk children and families in Boston. The venture is a significant investment in the Roxbury community, and will bring approximately 400 new jobs to the Jackson Square area.
With more than 15 childcare projects in its portfolio, Kaplan has worked on both new construction and renovation projects for early education clients, including multiple centers for Bright Horizons Family Solutions and the Center for Partnership in Early Education in Brookline.
The project team members for this project include:
Owner: Horizons for Homeless Children
Developer: Watermark Development, Inc.
Construction Manager: Kaplan Construction
Architect: studioMLA Architects
MEP Engineer: AHA Engineers
About Kaplan Construction
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.
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Rhino Public Relations
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