Timberline Construction joins Youth Enrichment Services in beam raising at new facility

Boston, MA Timberline Construction Corp. (Timberline) joined Youth Enrichment Services (YES) in celebrating a major milestone for the organization’s future headquarters – the beam raising ceremony for what will become the Richard Williams Youth Development Center.

On Wednesday, October 22^nd, YES hosted the ceremony on the project site in Jamaica Plain, marking a significant step forward in the construction of the nonprofit’s new three-story, 16,000 s/f headquarters. The event also celebrated a $1.5 million grant from the Yawkey Foundation, which will name the building in honor of YES founder Richard Williams.

“This new facility is a bold investment in the future of Boston’s youth,” said Bryan Van Dorpe, executive director of YES. “We’re honored to be creating this transformative space that continues Richard Williams’ legacy of empowering young people through outdoor adventure and leadership.”

When completed in 2026, the YES Richard Williams Youth Development Center will feature a ski shop, bike storage, rock-climbing wall, classrooms and multipurpose spaces, all designed to support year-round enrichment for youth ages 7-18. The rooftop will also be solar-ready, reflecting a shared commitment to sustainability.

The new facility will enable YES to expand its reach to over 2,000 youth annually within five years, building on its mission to inspire confidence, leadership and community engagement among Boston’s young people.

Timberline has supported YES for several years, from building the new headquarters to participating in the annual Boston Black Diamond Gala and partnering with Tenney Mountain, a Plymouth, NH ski area being revitalized by Timberline’s CEO Steven Kelly, which hosts two YES youth ski days each winter.

“This project embodies everything we value: community, opportunity and transformation,” said Steve Wassersug, Timberline’s president. “It’s an honor to work alongside our project partners and support an organization that’s making a lasting difference in the lives of Boston’s youth.”

The project team includes Causeway Development, VVA Project & Cost Managers as project manager, EMBARC as design architect and Timberline Construction as construction manager. Additional contributors include BLW Engineers, H+O Structural Engineers, Kyle Zick Landscape Architecture and The Compliance Mentor Group, which is engaging local youth in AEC industry awareness.

The Capital Campaign for the Richard Williams Youth Development Center is nearing 80% of its $10.4 million goal, supported by generous contributions from the Yawkey Foundation, private donors and the anticipated sale of YES’s current South End headquarters.