Kaplan Construction receives ABC’s Excellence in Construction Award for Trust Early Learners

Brookline, MA Kaplan Construction’s work on Trust Early Learners has earned an Excellence in Construction (EIC) Merit Award in the Institutional category from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts (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.

“The Trust Early Learners project stands as a testament to collaborative excellence, and it is fulfilling to be recognized for it,” said Nathan Peck, president of Kaplan Construction. “We overcame significant challenges during both preconstruction and construction, including nine rounds of pricing, a tight urban footprint, an abutting 170-year-old building, pandemic-related disruptions, and a fourth-floor terrace playground. Logistics planning, precise workflow, and continuous communication with abutters and neighboring businesses were crucial in delivering our client this state-of-the-art early education center.”

The Martin Trust Partnership in Education for Early Learners is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to change the standard of early education in America. Kaplan was hired in 2017 to provide preconstruction and construction services for their flagship early education center, a 20,000 s/f, five-story steel building featuring six spacious classrooms, a library, sensory gym, learning kitchen, STEM room, makerspace, rooftop playground, and administrative offices. The diversity-focused Trust Early Learners center, located at 127 Harvard St. in Brookline, began welcoming children in January of 2022.

Over 200 ABC members gathered on November 2 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Norwood, Mass. to recognize and celebrate the very best construction projects their companies have to offer. This year’s applicant pool was particularly competitive, with each winner selected for the high standards of craftsmanship, safety, and quality delivered by talented merit shop workers using the efficient merit shop approach.

ABC MA is the largest construction trade association in the Commonwealth, representing nearly 500 local general contractor, subcontractor, and supplier and associate companies that employ over 20,000 workers throughout Massachusetts.

The project team for Trust Early Learners included:

• Owner: Martin Trust Partnership in Education for Early Learners

• Construction manager: Kaplan Construction

• Architect: CBT

• Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineer: Wozny/Barbar & Associates, Inc.

• Civil engineer: Bryant Associates

• Structural engineer: Foley Buhl Roberts & Associates, Inc.

“We are proud to recognize the outstanding work of our member contractors through the ABC Excellence in Construction Awards,” said Greg Beeman, president of ABC MA. “The winning contractors maintained a constant focus on meeting their clients’ needs and set a high bar for craftsmanship, quality, and safety.”