Brownstone Restorations with Hemenway Construction
Restoring a historical brownstone in Back Bay requires more than just construction expertise; it demands a deep understanding of Boston’s architectural history, strict adherence to preservation guidelines, and the ability to seamlessly blend old-world craftsmanship with modern functionality. Hemenway Construction excels in all these areas, offering full-service project management for historical restorations in Boston’s prestigious Back Bay neighborhood.
Whether you’re restoring a centuries-old brownstone or embarking on a full scale conversion in Back Bay, Hemenway’s experience, attention to detail, and network of specialized subcontractors ensure that every project is completed with the highest level of quality and historical fidelity. We are the ideal partner for anyone looking to preserve the legacy of Back Bay while ensuring their property meets modern standards for comfort and efficiency.
The first steps to manifesting your vision would be to simply define the objective use for the brownstone, whether that be residential, condominium or rental, mixed use or all commercial. This will set the stage for the design. The next step is the pre-construction process. When working with Hemenway on a full-service design-build, they will set up the structure of the process within a matrix to organize steps and schedules. This process consists of conducting or reviewing a detailed property assessment to identify key infrastructure elements of the property and perform an analysis of what will be required. This information, along with your feedback with the team, will be used to develop an initial schematic design.
Schematic design consists of collaboration with architects and engineers to create conceptual designs that align with your vision. This includes addressing historical elements to maintain aesthetic integrity in alignment with the back bay historical commission’s guidelines while upgrading the infrastructure to suite your needs. The schematic design will be used to present our project to the city. If there are zoning considerations, it will be sent to the zoning board of appeals process for the city of Boston. (This is a process that could take an entire article to explain) Our team has decades of experience and knowledge in working with the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and will walk you through every step of the process. It will also be used in conjunction with a presentation to be presented to the Back Bay Architectural Commission. Our team has an in-depth knowledge of what the commission expects and requires. During the process, we will present to the board, and the public will also have a chance to weigh in.
The design phase will then draft the full set of permit plans. You will work closely with our multidisciplinary team to ensure that the design meets your functionality requirements and your aesthetic goals. All required code analysis and compliance will be incorporated. As construction managers, we will engage our trade professionals to preemptively resolve any potential design conflicts and ensure buildability. Once the full design process is done, we will have a blueprint that has been vetted and is ready for construction from start to finish. These plans will be submitted to the Building Department for review and issuance of the building permit.
Once the permit is issued, construction production will be executed. Hemenway utilizes lean construction management practices such as pull planning and the last planner system to keep the project on time and on budget. We also utilize various software and tools to maintain streamline communication back to the Client and transparency with daily logs and photo documentation. By working with skilled craftsmen in history the finish details and historical restoration elements, your project will be revitalized and provide the form with functionality. We will perform all of the start-up and commissioning of all equipment and do the initial setup of all controls to your needs and liking. When we turn over the project, you will have a detailed as-built package and support for managing warranties and service contracts along with your new built space.
To get started:
Schedule a consultation to discuss your vision and the specifics of the property.
Conduct a feasibility study and property assessment.
Develop a tailored project roadmap with cost estimates and timelines.