Kaplan Construction manages 2 child care center renovations

Kaplan Construction, a WBE general contractor and construction management firm, has completed renovations for Bright Horizons Family Solutions and begun construction at the Beverly Children's Learning Center. This is Kaplan's third child care project for Bright Horizons. Kaplan constructed a brand new early education center that can accommodate up to 106 children ranging from infants to pre-kindergarten within an existing office building located at 320 Needham St. near the Charles River. Kaplan performed demolition services for the interior finishes and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems. All demolition was conducted off-hours so as to minimize disruptions to the other tenants in the building. This was crucial to maintain productivity for a laboratory adjacent to the construction zone. Additional coordination with the neighboring tenants was required to install new plumbing and fire alarm systems, where any interruptions and shutdowns would affect all residents. The new plumbing design also called for underground installation and venting through the tenant space to the roof. Kaplan worked with the architecture firms StudioMLA and Davis Square Architects to complete this project. Kaplan was retained for pre-construction, design-build and construction management services for the conversion of an existing office suite into a child care center. BeverlyChildren's Learning Center (BCLC) is one of the first recipients of the Early Education and Out of School Time (EESOT) Capital Fund Grant Program run by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). This program is designed to improve the quality of the environment of childcare centers and create new affordable day care slots. Formerly serving as medical offices, Kaplan gutted approximately 12,200 s/f of the 18,000 s/f building. The BCLC will occupy the entire first floor and share the second floor with two other tenants. As such, careful consideration is given to staging and phasing so as not to disturb the other tenants. Kaplan is furnishing and installing new finishes and new energy efficient windows. Kaplan is working with the architecture firm StudioMLA (Brookline, Mass.) to complete this project for BCLC.