Steel Elements partners with PROCON renovates historic building into affordable housing for veterans

Franklin, NH Steel Elements, International, a metal framing and drywall company, partnered with PROCON’s design and construction team, on the historic renovation of the Easterseals NH Military & Veterans Campus. The community, located at 24 Holy Cross St., provides 29 affordable housing units, 22 hotel rooms, community spaces, and wrap-around services.

PROCON, the project designer and construction manager brought Steel Elements on board to help bring the Easterseals vision of veterans affordable housing to life. Steel Elements went to work on installing all the metal framing, drywall, insulation, and acoustic ceilings throughout the buildings.

“We got excited when we heard about the project because of its focus on housing for our heroes, and it was another great opportunity to collaborate with our friends at PROCON” said Steel Elements vice president of operations Colin Lane. The company began framing out those spaces in the middle of July 2025 and concluded their work by the end of September.

The historical value of the former Daniel Webster building and nunnery entailed preserving as many original elements as possible. Thus, intermingled with the newly upgraded spaces is much of the original flooring, stairways, banisters, and ceiling beams, and even the original stained-glass windows of the former chapel remain.

Phase I of construction on the Easterseals NH campus was finished in the summer of 2025 with 100% occupancy by grand opening day. Phase II is already in the planning stages, and will feature equine and canine facilities, indoor recreation opportunities, a climbing wall, and a ropes course.

In mid-September, Easterseals NH celebrated the grand opening of the community on the 15-acre campus attended by 1,000 partners, supporters, and friends. “Our incredible PROCON team, several of whom are veterans who served on this project, transformed this historic site to something truly extraordinary,” said John Stebbins, CEO of PROCON.

But perhaps, Alden Aldenberg, chief military and veterans service officer for Easterseals NH, summed it up best by saying, “This moment is about far more than brick or mortar.”