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Bridgewater, MA According to Callahan Construction Managers, its work on Squirrelwood Apartments has earned an Excellence in Construction Award (EICA) from ABC MA. The EIC awards program is the industry’s leading competition that honors both general and specialty contractors for world-class, safe, and innovative construction projects. Callahan received the Eagle Award, an honor reserved for work that stands above the rest. It recognizes overall excellence in project execution, craftsmanship, safety, innovative elements and challenges, and client satisfaction. This is the third time Callahan has earned an Eagle Award.

Squirrelwood Apartments is a 12-building, 88-unit affordable housing development located in Cambridge, developed by Just-A-Start Corp. Working in a densely populated area of the city posed many challenges for this restoration project, including constructing an apartment building to Passive House standards, working with challenging soil conditions, and managing odd geometries at a site near other residential properties.

“We are proud to recognize the outstanding work of our member contractors through the ABC Excellence in Construction Awards,” said ABC MA president Greg Beeman.

“This recognition underscores Callahan’s dedication to creating affordable housing solutions that not only meet the needs of residents but also elevate the standards of construction excellence.”

The $24.8 million project involved renovating 10 buildings, including a historic five-story masonry former candy factory, a mix of wooden balloon-framed multifamily structures and an 1820s-erasingle-family farmhouse. Crews added three buildings as infills on the site to provide additional affordable housing. Two complied with Energy Star standards, the other with the U.S. Passive House energy efficiency standard.

The team also managed multiple logistical challenges for the dozen buildings on the project–which included nine renovations, two new buildings, and an addition to one existing building–as well as managing a move for occupants.

The project team for Squirrelwood Apartments included:

• Owner/Developer - Just A Start Corp.
• Construction Manager – Callahan Construction Inc.
• Architect - Davis Square Architects
• MEP Engineer - BLW Engineers, Inc.
• Civil Engineer - Devellis Zrein, Inc.
• Structural Engineer - Dan Bonardi Consulting Engineers
• Energy Consultant - New Ecology, Inc.