69 A Street, Boston

69 A Street in South Boston is a prime example of how historic buildings can be transformed without being cost-prohibitive. The first building in the U.S. to incorporate cross-laminated timber (CLT) into a renovation and expansion, this project married the building’s 120-year-old history with a modern brick-and-timber facade, as we turned a former rivet factory into a modern office space in one of our most unique redevelopment projects to date.

We managed the 46,000-sq ft gut renovation and vertical expansion on behalf of the nonprofit owner, our long-time client the Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE). Starting with a site search, feasibility study and acquisition transaction management, our team led the construction team procurement process, contract negotiations, and the intricate permitting process.

The result was a successful and innovative building redevelopment, proving that CLT can be an efficient, cost effective and sustainable choice for existing buildings in need of renovation and expansion.