Former MA Dormitory Turns Into Affordable Community
Kennedy Hall at Cardinal Cushing Center found new life as the 37-unit Bethany Apartments. NEI General Contracting, The Architectural Team and Horsley Witten Group were part of the project.
Bethany Apartments
General contractor and construction management firm NEI General Contracting has completed its fourth project for the Planning Office for Urban Affairs Inc. in Boston. The non-profit housing developer affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese converted the 56,000-square-foot Kennedy Hall at Cardinal Cushing Center in Hanover, Mass., into 37 affordable and workforce-housing units. NEI oversaw the historic adaptive reuse process at the building, which will be known as Bethany Apartments.
Located at 369 Washington St., the 1957-built property provides easy access to Pilgrims Highway. The H-shaped brick property now includes a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The existing structure was maintained, but the chapel was converted into an open community room with a 15-foot ceiling. NEI transformed other spaces in a lounge, fitness center, reading room and office.
Initially, the three-story building served as a dormitory. Cardinal Cushing Center supported children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities since the late 1940s.
Several entities joined forces to make the conversion possible. The Architectural Team served as architect, Horsley Witten Group provided civil engineering and landscape services, while Wozny Barbar & Associates was in charge of the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection component. MacRostie Historic Advisors was the historic consultant and WaypointKLA Inc. represented the owner.
NEI General Contracting completed several adaptive reuse projects in Massachusetts. In 2017, the 121-year-old Duck Mill in Lawrence was transformed into an affordable housing community.
Image courtesy of NEI General Contracting
