Kaplan Const. awarded construction of 23,000 s/f Chabad at Chestnut Hill

Chestnut Hill, MA Kaplan Construction has been awarded the construction of Chabad at Chestnut Hill, a new 23,000 s/f center that will support worship, education, and community programming for the growing Jewish community and the surrounding neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury, and Roslindale.

Located on a site created by combining two former residential properties, the new facility will include a synagogue, social hall, preschool and religious school classrooms, commercial kitchen, Mikvah, administrative offices, and outdoor gathering spaces. The exterior design features stone and precast masonry, stucco, and lead-coated copper, while the site plan incorporates a rear courtyard, playground, masonry veneered walls, parking and electric vehicle charging stations.

“The Chabad at Chestnut Hill project represents an exciting opportunity to help create a lasting resource for the Jewish community,” said Nathan Peck, president of Kaplan Construction. “We’ve been deeply involved since the initial sitework phase, and it’s already required a high level of collaboration and problem solving. As a company headquartered just a few miles away, we’re proud to be part of a project that will have such a meaningful impact on the local community.”

Before construction began, Kaplan completed extensive site preparation work. Because nearly the entire site was underlain by solid ledge, the team used drilling and blasting to prepare the site for construction while minimizing impacts on neighboring properties. Additional excavation was required to accommodate the below-grade Mikvah, which necessitated removing up to 20 feet of ledge in some areas. The team encountered unexpected groundwater and implemented a temporary dewatering system that operated continuously for nearly three months while the structure was built and waterproofed.

The building’s social hall will serve as a venue for weekly Shabbat luncheons, cultural programs, educational events, and family celebrations. The sanctuary, with its flexible seating, is designed to accommodate a variety of worship and community gatherings in a welcoming environment.

Construction is underway and is scheduled for completion in the late summer of 2027.

“For many years, we’ve dreamed of creating a permanent home that reflects the warmth, energy, and growth of our community,” said rabbi Mendy Uminer, lead rabbi and co-director of Chabad at Chestnut Hill. “Today, that dream is becoming a reality thanks to the incredible generosity and support of so many people who have helped bring us to this moment. Kaplan has been an important partner throughout the process, helping us navigate challenges and prepare for the road ahead. We look forward to building a space where every individual and family feels welcome, and where our community can continue to grow and thrive for generations to come.” 

The project team members for Chabad at Chestnut Hill include:
Owner: Chabad Lubavitch at Chestnut Hill
Owner’s Representative: Jonathan Lavash Project Management, LLC
Construction Manager: Kaplan Construction
Architect: Adolfo Perez Architect
Structural Engineer: Roome & Guarracino Engineering
MEP/FP Engineer: Allied Consulting Engineering Services
Civil Engineer: Verne T. Porter Associates
Landscape Architect: Ryan Associates Landscape Architecture & Planning
Geotechnical Engineer: Geotechnical Consultants Inc.