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Kaplan Construction Renovates Merrimack Valley YMCA for New Child Care Program

August 08, 2017 - By The Real Reporter
40 Lawrence Street, Lawrence MA

BOSTON— Kaplan Construction recently completed renovations to the Merrimack Valley YMCA, located at 40 Lawrence Street in Lawrence, Mass. The remodel allowed for the relocation and expansion of its preschool and child care programs. In total, Kaplan renovated approximately 12,000 SF of the building, transforming the lower level and second floor.

Working with the designs of Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype of Boston, Kaplan completed the remodel, which consisted of both aesthetic and safety features. Kaplan refurbished the building’s lower level, adding classrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen and play space dedicated to the YMCA’s School Age Program. The second floor, which previously housed the after school program, was converted into the YMCA’s Preschool Program, with the addition of classrooms, bathrooms, and a kitchenette as well as the installation of updated sprinkler, fire protection, and life safety systems. Once licensed, the School Age Program will offer programming for up to 150 children, ages 5 to 13, during summer and school vacations from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Meanwhile, the Preschool Program will accommodate up to 80 children ages 2.9 to 5 years.

Through careful coordination with the YMCA’s staff and programmers, Kaplan was able to phase work to minimize the impact on patrons and residents. The YMCA adjusted programs and times as needed to accommodate the work during the multi-phased construction project.

The Merrimack Valley YMCA’s staff appreciated Kaplan’s efforts to minimize disruption during the renovation process. “Kaplan placed great emphasis on the safety of our guests and staff, and was extremely conscientious about managing construction noise and controlling the renovation process. They allowed us to remain fully operational during construction, and proved to be an excellent choice to support us in our mission to enlarge our facility so that we may provide more programs and services dedicated to youth care,” lauds Cathy Flynn, Child Care Executive Director at the Merrimack Valley YMCA. “We are committed to providing our community with healthy and safe options for child care. At the YMCA, there are four core values we teach: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Kaplan shares those values,” she furthered. The YMCA’s staff takes pride in its programs, so it appreciated the opportunity to continue them during construction and looks forward to initiating them in the new facility.

The grand opening of the new child care center took place on June 14th. Members of Kaplan’s design/build team contributed to reaching this completion date. Specifically, Lynco Fire Protection, Inc. of Burlington, MA provided the necessary fire protection, Gaffny Plumbing and Heating of Salem, NH offered plumbing and HVAC services, and Electrical Dynamics, Inc. of North Reading performed the electrical work.

Renovated YMCA Classroom Cathy Flynn