Boston, MA According to Kaplan Construction, its work on Castle Island Brewery in South Boston has earned an Excellence in Construction (EIC) Award 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. Kaplan was awarded 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 marks the 10^th time Kaplan has received the Eagle Award.

Located within an existing industrial building, Castle Island Brewery South Boston features a 4,000 s/f main tasting room with seating for 220 people, a retail area, and a 1,900 s/f private event space which can accommodate up to 140 people. A quarter of Castle Island’s new space accommodates the brewing operations, including a brewhouse and seven 10-barrel tanks. 

During construction, Kaplan uncovered unexpected conditions in the century-old building, including an unusually thick concrete slab, underground obstructions, and deteriorated plumbing. These findings required collaboration with the structural engineer and adjustments, including replacing plumbing and rebuilding several walls. 

Other key challenges included working within the building’s compact footprint and overcoming the impacts of COVID-19.

“Despite the many challenges our team faced, this project was marked by exceptional collaboration and seamless communication among Kaplan, ownership, and the design team,” said Nathan Peck, president of Kaplan Construction. “A major highlight of the process was our shared dedication to preserving the building’s original character and finding creative ways to achieve that goal. We are honored to receive the EIC Award for our work, especially for a valued repeat client like Castle Island Brewing Company.” 

“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. “The winning contractors maintained a constant focus on meeting their clients’ needs and set a high bar for craftsmanship, quality, and safety.” 

The project team members for this project include:

Client: Castle Island Brewing Company

Developer: National Development

Construction Manager: Kaplan Construction

Architect: Joe the Architect

MEP/FP Engineer: BLW Engineers

Structural Engineer: Souza True & Partners.