Newton, MA Erland Construction, alongside Bechtel Frank Erickson Architects, recently completed the renovation and expansion of a nearly 200-year-old building that will soon be a contemporary, 55,000 s/f memory care community designed exclusively to support individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia and their family members. Adelaide of Newton Centre, a Benchmark development, is the first dedicated memory care community in the city.

 The Erland team was tasked with renovating the 20,000 s/f building, and constructing a 35,000 s/f addition on a logistically challenging site with unforeseen subsurface conditions to support Benchmark’s new approach to Alzheimer’s and dementia care. The new property comprises 50 apartments with a capacity to serve 61 residents, interior and upper courtyards, plentiful gardens, three two-story skylights to draw in natural light, café, salon and spa and Elev8 Mind Studio. 

“We are extremely proud of the finished product and understand how people’s quality of life will be dramatically improved by this new community,” said Eric Greene, VP & residential group manager at Erland. “Not only was fully renovating a 196-year old building challenging but the constraints we faced with the existing infrastructure posed a lot of opportunities for problem-solving as well. It was a true team effort to deliver a unique, high-quality community for Benchmark.” 

 The adaptive reuse project required modifications to the existing Farwell Hall and entailed a complete renovation of the interior. Two new sets of stairs and an elevator were added, structural supports and seismic systems were upgraded, and new utilities and windows were installed. The new addition is a steel structure with light gauge metal roof trusses, vinyl windows, and Hardi siding.