Spring 2001

Project Update

Historical Roots

The goal of an historic renovation is to provide posterity for generations to come. However, in the case of the New England Historic Genealogical Society library, the idea was to preserve the generations themselves. The library, which houses the largest genealogical collection in New England, underwent a renovation on its first and second floors that created added reading areas, storage spaces, offices and special function facilities as well as a better-protected environment for the Society’s vast amount of rare, genealogical information.

One of the building’s most notable features is its large oak-paneled rotunda which one sees immediately upon entering the front door. New shelving was installed along the rotunda’s walls and was created by reusing as much of the existing oak paneling as possible. Any remaining millwork was articulately designed to match the profile and finish of the existing wood décor. Two Tiffany glass chandeliers in the rotunda were removed and marked, crystal by crystal, for cleaning and restoration. The process took three workers two days to perform. New book shelving in the library was coated with a unique finish to aid in the preservation of books. Specialized ventilation and security systems were installed to enhance the protection of the library’s valued materials. The architect on this project in Boston’s historical Back Bay was Keefe Associates, Inc.

The first and second floor renovations are a subsequent project to work that Lee Kennedy Co. performed in 1997 to the library’s basement, fourth, fifth and sixth floors. This initial project provided for increased useable space, improved security, a conference center, and additional storage for books and documents in a temperature and moisture controlled environment.

Project Team: Charlie Paglia & Pam Brooks, project managers; Tom Fitzgerald, superintendent

Our Family Tree
Best wishes to former Project Manager Charlie Paglia whose last project before his retirement from Lee Kennedy Co. was the New England Historic Genealogical Society library. Charlie worked with the Company for 16 years and was a valued member of the Lee Kennedy team.

Higher Education

The project Lee Kennedy Co. performed inside Larsen Hall at Harvard University was a prototype renovation for the School of Education. The renovations, covering two classrooms and a lecture hall on the first floor, entailed extensive multimedia elements. The Stubbins Associates, Inc. architecture firm designed the space that now allows individual students to have access via laptop computer connections to the campus network. Plus, the renovated rooms have provisions for advanced multimedia presentations including plasma screens and video conferencing.

Project Team: Tony Sievers, project manager; Jack Maunsell, superintendent; Brian Zek, labor foreman

The business world is moving fast. And the e-business world is moving even faster. Completion of an ultra-contemporary office space for NerveWire, Inc. required proficient communication between Lee Kennedy Co. and the project architect, Bergmeyer Associates, Inc. Design and acquisition of materials happened nearly simultaneously in many cases to facilitate the project’s tight schedule. The new space for this business-to-business consulting services firm features the creative use of color and shape, unique finishes, flexible conference and team-working space and, as is becoming a staple in today’s high-tech work environment, a recreation room.

Nervewire Project Team:
Scott Giles, project manager
Bob Hogan, superintendent
Angel Malaxechevarria, labor foreman

Fill ‘Er Up

The base building construction of International Cargo Port finished this past summer and since that time, Lee Kennedy Co. continues to complete work for tenants occupying the facility. The former warehouse space has been transformed into a 3-story office building that includes warehouse, distribution and truck-loading space on the lower level. Tenants filling the lower space include the freight forwarding companies of Norsur Corporation, Kuehne & Nagel, Inc., Logistics Management Network, and Barry International Forwarding, Inc. Office fit ups on the upper floors of International Cargo Port have been completed for Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc., Central Global Express, CORE, Inc., and Cesari and McKenna, llp. All spaces were designed by Visnick & Caulfield, Associates.

Project Team: Ed Hines, project executive; Paul Marks, project manager; Chris Pennie, superintendent; Ben Tuckerman, project coordinator; Martin Foley, labor foreman; Tom Foley, field engineer/superintendent; Pat Dowd, field engineer; Jay McBrine, carpenter foreman

In The Works

Tight Spot

Lee Kennedy Co. is performing the ground up construction of a new multi-purpose tower in Boston’s Theater District designed by Elkus/Manfredi Architects ltd. The Emerson College Tufte Performance & Production Center will feature ten levels above grade and one level below to house two television studios, two theaters, support areas for the theaters, seminar rooms, faculty offices, and support services for the adjacent Emerson Majestic Theatre. Accessibility to the site is challenging because the main construction access is a single alley running along side the Majestic Theatre. The scope also includes renovations to the adjacent Walker Building and Majestic Theatre. The building will be completely wired for phone and data and connected to the campus data system. Furthermore, all HVAC, electrical and plumbing must be carefully constructed to substantially eliminate noise and comply with the stringent acoustical needs of the building’s performance spaces.

How Fitting
A few of the tenant fit ups Lee Kennedy Co. is currently performing around Boston include

• Fitzgerald Communications Inc. in the World Trade Center East with the architecture firm of Aston Pereira & Associates
  
• Lee Munder Investments LTD. in the John Hancock Tower with Pazzi Inc.
  
• Fitcorp at 100 Summer Street with John Cunningham Architects, Inc.