November 12, 2007
Cranes And Scaffolds
By Matthew L. Brown
Top Central Mass. construction projects total $3.4 billion
Welcome to, and thank you for reading, the Worcester Business Journal's first ever list of the largest construction projects in Central Massachusetts.
In compiling this list, we set out to provide readers with a comprehensive list of the most significant developments in Massachusetts. The 20 projects on the list represent $3.4 billion in construction projects underway or completed this year, and it is a mix of projects both massive and modest, public and private, cutting edge and straightforward.
Educated Projects
Counting Worcester Polytechnic Institute's residence hall and parking garage and the Massachusetts Firefighters Academy, the list includes $446 million in school construction. The school pack includes three high school projects: the new Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, the new North High School in Worcester and the renovation and addition to the Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough. Eight of the 20 projects on the list are in Worcester, including the impatiently anticipated CitySquare project downtown, the recently opened Worcester Trial Court and the last project on the list, the Kilby-Gardner-Hammond project in the city's Main South neighborhood.
Nine of the projects are in MetroWest or the boroughs, including the Natick Collection - the overhauled Natick Mall in Natick, the $100 million, three-building Signature Park office complex in Marlborough and the downtown Framingham Arcade project.
The Framingham Arcade is part of another decades-old trend that doesn't seem to be waning. Apparently, municipalities' thirst for mixed-use revitalization projects can't be quenched. Along with Gateway Park in Worcester, which will include residential and retail space with its biotech, lab and office space, there are five mixed-use "town center" type projects that account for $994 million of the construction on the list.
The Use Of Mixed-Use
Those projects include the CitySquare project in downtown Worcester, Gateway Park, Bay State Commons in Westborough, the Wayland Town Center project and the Framingham Arcade. Developers of such mixed-use projects have stumbled upon a recipe that is almost certain to be approved by local land use officials, gain the support of town residents and attract businesses with their mix of new space attached to apartments or condos full of potential customers.
All of the mixed-use projects on our list include office, commercial and residential space. Framingham's Arcade includes a hotel. Wayland's project includes municipal offices.
As you read the list, notice also that we've put five projects we think are especially interesting, from the massive Bristol-Myers Squibb manufacturing facility in Devens to a project that requires the construction of a bridge over the Massachusetts Turnpike, in the "spotlight."
There are also a number of developments not included in our list that probably belong there. Projects on the list are ranked by budget, and developers or companies that would not divulge or confirm project budgets were made aware that their projects would not appear on the list.
For example, we suspect that EMC Corp.'s new research and development facility in Southborough will cost enough to make it to the list. We also suspect that the 600,000-square foot retail development off Route 20 in Charlton would crack the top 10 if it were included. But neither EMC, nor Konover Development Corp., the developer of the Charlton project, would release budget numbers for their projects.
Also, Charles River Laboratories - which currently has operations in Worcester - is putting the finishing touches on its new 450,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility at 334 South St. in Shrewsbury. The building is two-thirds complete and will house about 450 employees. The company declined to name the price tag for the project.
Construction in The Spotlight
View List for Largest Construction Projects
Learn more about some of the largest construction projects in the region by checking out the developments we've decided to spotlight.
Devens Heaven
Rebirth of A Downtown
Noveau Riche At Nouvelle
Cutting Edge Treatment
Building By Byways
WBJ Web Partners
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