Boston, MA Lee Kennedy Co. has been managing campus improvement projects at Simmons University for more than 20 years, and recently completed construction of the University’s new science center and library within Lefavour Hall and the West Wing of the main college building. The recent renovation completed phase 3 of the university’s “One Simmons” plan which enables the university to offer first-class facilities to their students.

Designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, phases 1 and 2 began in May 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. These enabling phases consisted of updating existing classrooms, offices, and spaces within other buildings on campus, to allow Simmons to move personnel from the existing building to prepare for the fit-out of new science and library spaces.

Phase 3 was a continuation of enabling work on the main campus and the full 142,000 s/f renovation of existing spaces in Lefavour Hall and West Wing. This provided new classrooms, offices, support spaces, a library, and two full floors of labs for students and faculty. The new science labs included neuro science, bio/chem, anatomy and physiology, micro genetics, chemistry and additional research labs. Well-known for their nursing program, Simmons University also built new labs for home health, surgical, ER, pediatric, labor and delivery, and other various teaching simulation labs. These new labs will allow students to gain access to the same equipment they will eventually go on to use after graduation.

Lee Kennedy managed construction in the heart of a fully operational Simmons University campus. As a result of early planning and close collaboration with Simmons, Redgate, and subcontractors, the entire project team was able to minimize disruption and coordinate the project logistically around the busy college campus. This project continues Lee Kennedy’s life science work in and around the area.

Celebrating over 40 years of building partnerships, Lee Kennedy is a full-service contractor that provides general contracting, construction management, preconstruction, program management and design/build services. The company’s extensive portfolio includes work in a variety of industry sectors including commercial development; academic; corporate interiors; life sciences; technology; retail; residential; hospitality; and historic restoration.