BOSTON – October 8, 2024 – Kaplan Construction, a WBE general contractor and construction management firm providing comprehensive building programs across Greater Boston, celebrated the completion of Leyland Community in Dorchester, Mass. at a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, September 25. The ceremony featured remarks from Sheila Dillon, Chief of Housing for the City of Boston, CEO Kimberly R. Lyle of Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, CEO Louis Woolf of Hebrew SeniorLife, and current Leyland Community residents.
Co-developed by Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation and Hebrew SeniorLife and designed by Davis Square Architects, the new five-story development includes 41 one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units, and five units are accessible to persons with mobility, hearing, and visual impairments. In addition to providing affordable rental supportive housing and programming through Hebrew SeniorLife, the building offers two multipurpose rooms for residents and community members with outdoor green space, a bike room accommodating up to 26 bikes, two laundry facilities, and a roof terrace on the fifth floor. Nine surface parking spaces, including two accessible parking spaces, and connections to surrounding amenities such as playgrounds and gardens were built for residents.
Sustainability was a key focus of the Leyland Community project, and the Kaplan team worked closely with the design team and consultants to construct the building to the rigorous standards of Passive House and LEED Silver certification. Through incremental inspection, pressurization testing, and adjustments, the building passed critical compartmentalization and airtightness testing.
The project demonstrated Kaplan’s longstanding dedication to affordable housing by exceeding subcontracting requirements, partnering with 30% Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and 13% Women Business Enterprises (WBE). The team also surpassed the City of Boston’s hiring goals, achieving 80% minority worker hours, well above the 50% contractual requirement.
The project team members for Leyland Community include:
- Developer: Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation
- Management Agent: Hebrew SeniorLife
- Owner’s Representative: HTP-CS2C/NE
- Construction Manager: Kaplan Construction
- Architect: Davis Square Architects
- MEP/FP Engineer: Petersen Engineering
- Civil Engineer: Meridian Associates
- Structural Engineer: RSE Associates
- Landscape Architect: Deborah Myers Landscape Architects
Photo credit: Jenna Joyce