New Bedford, MA South Coast Improvement Company (SCI), a design-build general contractor serving New England and the Mid-Atlantic states, completed construction on a project to convert a vacant building on Union St. into a 68-room hotel. The new hotel, the New Bedford Harbor Hotel, is located at 222 Union St. and opened in mid-July.

The Columbus Group, a Boston-based private investment firm, developed this $10 million project. The project entailed converting a vacant 46,600 s/f building at 218-226 Union St. into a 68-room hotel, 3,300 s/f restaurant and 5,100 s/f banquet space. The New Bedford Harbor Hotel is now part of the Choice Hotels chain.

Highlights of the work completed by South Coast Improvement included the gutting of the five-story building, which formerly housed the radio station WSBM. It also featured complete mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrade and reconfiguration throughout the facility. Part of that effort was the installation of shower, toilet and sink in each of the 68 rooms.

Additionally, the elevators had to be upgraded to current standards and codes. All common areas were completely redone. 

The hotel marks the third major project SCI has completed in the waterfront area in the city. Last year, SCI finished work on the Moby Dick Brewery, a 4,300 s/f brewery/eatery located at the intersections of Union and Water St. across from the New Bedford Whaling Museum in the city’s historic district.

Additionally, SCI finished a renovation project earlier this year for the Co-Creative Center with Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE).

“We’ve had a great working relationship with the city of New Bedford over the years and have enjoyed working on new projects like the Moby Dick Brewery, WHALE, the New Bedford Harbor Hotel and another large project that’s currently in construction—the addition to the YWCA,” said Tom Quinlan, president of SCI. “Our company’s earliest roots are in New Bedford and the addition of a first-clast hotel to the waterfront is great for the City and will be a draw for more revitalization projects to the area.”