Bishop Allen Apartments,
Cambridge, MA

Affordable Housing

Renovating affordable housing in Central Square, Cambridge

Just-A-Start Corporation engaged Curtis Construction for the renovation of 27 three-bedroom, and five two-bedroom affordable housing units in the Central Square neighborhood, at the intersection of Bishop Allen Drive and Norfolk Street, Cambridge.

Date Completed – September 2015
Cost – $5.6M
Developer – Just-A-Start
Architect – Winslow Architect

Case Study

This historic preservation renovation project of four buildings presented significant design challenges relating to historic preservation. Just-A-Start, Winslow Architects, and Curtis Construction teamed to design and build creative solutions. Curtis was tasked with preserving the historic character of the circa 1880’s building while bring it up to code, providing energy efficiencies and providing ADA accessibility for certain apartments.

The 32 apartments in four buildings were originally built in the 1880s and were renovated keeping the original architecture. The renovation’s design was provided by Winslow Architects of Arlington, MA.

Restoring these historical buildings to their original architectural design comprised of new doors, the de-leading of old painted surfaces and new paint, the removal of vinyl siding and the restoration of the architectural details of the historic buildings

The project included energy efficient windows and new insulation, upgraded kitchens and bathrooms, new flooring, and a high efficiency boiler.

Curtis Construction was Awarded the 2016 Cambridge Historical Preservation Award. Curtis was recognized due to its project team’s painstaking careful attention to historic detail throughout the process.