BOSTON – April 25, 2014 – Kaplan Construction, a general contractor and construction management firm providing comprehensive building programs to commercial, healthcare, multi-family, worship, institutional, and historic rehabilitation/adaptive reuse clients across Greater Boston, announced today that it has completed a new child care center in Brookline, Mass. for Bright Horizons Family Solutions®, a leading provider of early education and preschools, employer-sponsored child care, back-up care, educational advisory services and other work/life solutions.
Over the course of four months and following a complete demolition of the building interior, Kaplan renovated an existing office building located at 138 Harvard Street in Brookline into a new early education and preschool that can accommodate up to 113 children ranging from infants to pre-kindergarten. In addition to the classrooms organized by age group, Kaplan created an interior playroom with a climbing wall as well as a staff lounge, kitchen area, and office space for employees.
The original building was constructed on stilts to provide parking underneath. Kaplan converted 75 percent of the parking lot into green space and a playground with rubber matting. A concrete tricycle path with bridges and tunnels was incorporated into the play area, recognizing Bright Horizons commitment to teaching children about the importance of leading an active lifestyle. A perimeter fence was installed along Harvard Street and Auburn Street, and low interior fences were constructed to separate the different age groups.
“This fast-track project went smoothly from start to finish thanks to Kaplan Construction,” said Lindsay McKenzie, Director at Bright Horizons. “They understand the restrictions of working in Brookline and they did a great job. We now have a bright and friendly space to support the early education and child development for our families.”
A new roof and mechanical systems were installed and a 140-foot long ramp was constructed to provide an evacuation route from the center to the exterior.
Kaplan worked with the architecture firms StudioMLA (Brookline, Mass.) and Davis Square Architects (Somerville, Mass.) to complete this project for Bright Horizons.
About Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Bright Horizons Family Solutions® is a leading provider of high-quality child care, early education and other services designed to help employers and families better address the challenges of work and life. The Company provides center-based child care, back-up dependent care and educational advisory services to more than 900 clients across the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and India, including more than 130 FORTUNE 500 companies and more than 75 of Working Mother magazine’s 2012 “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers.” Bright Horizons is one of FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” and is one of the UK’s Best Workplaces as designated by the Great Place to Work Institute. Bright Horizons is headquartered in Watertown, MA. The Company’s web site is located at www.brighthorizons.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Shelby, FSMPS, CPSM
Rhino Public Relations
978.985.4541
kaplan@rhinopr.com
Additional coverage:
New England Real Estate Journal
