Construction Tops Off at Kendall East
Tocci and Urban Spaces celebrate a milestone.
Tocci Building Corporation and client Urban Spaces are pleased to announce the “topping off” of Kendall East. Designed by architectural firm Perkins Eastman, this two-building, mixed-use development in Cambridge, Massachusetts will feature 211,000 SF of both residential units and retail space. The project program includes 136 residential units, an expansive half-acre greenspace connecting the two buildings, and two levels of below-grade parking including 142 parking spaces and 159 bicycle spaces.
The work leading to this milestone event involved the demolition of several connected commercial buildings, two stories of below-grade excavation, the pouring of concrete foundations and, like many development projects in the area, navigating through the construction moratorium and other challenges related to Covid-19.
This milestone marks the completion of the structural steel phase of the building and serves to recognize the trade contractors for their work thus far. While a proper topping off ceremony was not feasible due to social distancing regulations, the team was thanked with lunch and words of encouragement from Tocci’s Assistant Superintendent, Nick Tierney.
After a few uncertain weeks at the onset of Covid-19 and obtaining approvals from the City of Cambridge to allow us to temporarily continue construction, the team at Kendall East worked hard and kept it together to accomplish this major milestone.
Bill Welch, Superintendent
We’re very appreciative of all the trades’ and the entire construction team’s efforts to operate successfully in today’s challenging workplace environment. The mutual respect between Tocci and Urban Spaces bodes well, not only for the future of this project, but for others we hope to do together in the future.
Paul Ognibene, Founder + CEO, Urban Spaces, LLC
Two top concerns on any jobsite are safety and schedule. Despite the pandemic, the team has worked to maintain a safe construction environment, thanks in large part to Safety Director Tim Lyons’s COVID-19 Safety Plan. Tocci is also working with consultants and construction pre-fabrication experts to regain lost time.
Next steps for the project include placing slabs, starting wall framing and getting the building envelope water-tight for interior MEPs and finishes. Construction is expected to wrap up in 2021.
Urban Spaces
Urban Spaces, LLC is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based real estate development company. Founded in 1989 by current CEO Paul Ognibene, Urban Spaces has earned a regional reputation for award-winning developments that revitalize emerging neighborhoods and enhance those that are well-established. The company has developed a broad range of projects, including new construction, adaptive re-use, and historic preservation in both the private and public sectors. In addition to being an innovator, Urban Spaces is an influencer and is known for forecasting and advancing many of the important urban trends that we see today, such as micro units, modular construction, and environmental design. Urban Spaces continues to make important contributions to the urban fabric and to the host communities it serves. For more information, visit UrbanSpacesLLC.com.
Perkins Eastman
Perkins Eastman is a global design firm founded on the belief that design can have a direct and positive impact on people’s lives. The firm’s award-winning practice draws on its 1,000 professionals networked across 17 offices worldwide. By keeping the user’s needs foremost in the design process, the firm enhances the human experience across the spectrum of the built environment. For more information, visit PerkinsEastman.com.