New England Best Projects
Award of Merit Renovation/Restoration: Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Photo by Elisif Photography, courtesy of Timberline Construction Corp.
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Cambridge, Mass.
Award of Merit
Submitted By: Timberline Construction Corp.
Owner: Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Lead Design Firm: DiMella Shaffer
General Contractor: Timberline Construction Corp.
MEP Engineer: R.W. Sullivan Engineering
Owner’s Project Manager: CSL Consulting
FOR PRINT Subcontractors: Butler; Falvey Finishing; Ford Painting; Cavalieri; MP Masonry; SB Carpentry; Cleary and Sons; Florence Electric; Avellino Flooring; Glover
The project involved careful planning and construction to rehabilitate 113 Brattle St.—one of Cambridge’s most historic addresses—as well as build an expansion onto the back of the building. Renovation and expansion of the home into 20,000 sq ft of offices, visitor space, conference rooms and a training facility required a gut demolition of the interior, with construction of a ground-up addition in the rear.
New MEP systems were installed and the elevator modernized. With the home dating to the 1850s, the project team had to closely coordinate work with the Cambridge Historical Commission. To determine original paint colors, the team sent samples for laboratory analysis. The project team was also required to salvage as much as the cladding as possible, which was challenging at times since some of it was brittle and required lead paint abatement.
The project team conducted “continuous onsite safety evaluations” to ensure adherence to federal safety standards and to address and resolve issues as quickly as possible.
Construction Management Resources, a third-party company that works with contractor Timberline, provided an additional level of accountability separate from the project team and subcontractors.
The team set a goal of zero accidents each day, one that was achieved during the long renovation and restoration process.
The 17-month project was completed on schedule and on budget.
