Callahan Construction and Velney Construction Team Up to Meet Twin Challenges

By Pat Callahan

The need for housing in Massachusetts and across the country is immense. As a general contractor and construction manager with a wealth of expertise in building housing of all types (i.e. market-rate, affordable, age-restricted) Callahan sees how critical it is to bring these projects online. However, especially in today’s market, it is extremely challenging.

One of the biggest challenges we see in the industry right now goes beyond simply financing the work at the state level.  The 2021 MBTA Communities law as well as the recently passed Affordable Homes Act, are major steps in the right direction, but we see some additional steps needed to truly maximize the impact of public dollars – which is why our company recently took the proactive step to form a strategic partnership with Somerville, -based contractor Velney Construction.

Right now, the construction industry faces tremendous change as generational shifts that are impacting every layer of society also alter how we do business. Many seasoned professionals are aging out of the industry, leaving voids we desperately need to fill to meet the ambitious goals of the housing bills.

Callahan Wins Too

It is essential to build the bench of the next-generation of Massachusetts general contractors to ensure our industry is future-proof. Recently, groups like the SouthCoast Workforce Housing Coalition have been created to address the need to create good-paying jobs and increase housing stock in order to future-proof our workforce, a goal that our company shares with state leaders.

As Callahan continues to grow both geographically and in the scope of the projects we manage, partnering with companies like Velney will enable us to provide more resources to our customers while also ensuring that smaller and historically disadvantaged business have access to the tools necessary to grow professionally.

We see Velney as an ideal partner for pursuing joint venture opportunities on new housing projects and for helping a next-generation company invest in the tools needed to grow and succeed.

Firms like Velney often find it difficult to afford the resources necessary to grow smart and manage risk appropriately. We have found that many startup construction organizations fail due to financial strains on their business, or because they have taken on work without the proper resources to manage it.

Callahan will be helping Velney train its own employees both in practical jobsite skills along with utilizing technology tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Procore and estimating software, along with internal resources like legal, accounting, risk management and quality control.

We believe this partnership will let Velney build a track record for sustainable and manageable growth, with the goal of eventually competing on their own with other larger GCs. 

Higher Construction Costs Hurt WMBEs

New building codes, as well as changes to federal policy such as the 2023 overhaul of the Davis-Bacon Act, sharply increased construction costs. Massachusetts’ new Home Energy Rating System (HERS) program also increased costs to build while passing future savings from reduced energy expenses on to the consumer down the road.

While these programs ultimately aim to protect workers and consumers, they also make it increasingly difficult for young companies to enter into an already expensive industry. Simply getting a shovel in the ground doesn’t mean a business is instantly profitable, as the road is long and challenging from signing a contract to being financially stable – and we believe companies like Velney can get there with some strategic support.

For Callahan, this relationship helps us become more diverse, grow our MBE/WBE partner base, provides our customers with more options and gives us the pride of helping others. We also see it as a critical way to help address the state’s housing shortfall by bringing on resources to help us build faster and smarter, all the while training next-generation workers who will someday build these projects on their own long after the current crop of leaders age out of the business. Massachusetts has made great strides to address the housing gap. We at Callahan are excited that this partnership with Velney will not only support ambitious investment in this state and the Northeast but also in a company that is ready to rise to the next level.

This story originally appeared in Banker & Tradesman

The life sciences market is rapidly changing – that much we know. While no one can predict the future, it is possible to build a cutting-edge laboratory and research facility that will adapt to the changing needs of scientists and researchers. That’s what is unfolding at 440 Bedford, a completely new approach to lab space in the coveted Lexington submarket.

440 Bedford Street is a new 6-story, 335,000 GSF Class AA speculative life science lab and office building being built by Callahan Construction. When finished, the building will include incubator lab space, graduator lab space, lab-ready spaces, a café, fitness center and other amenities. The building will also feature a retail and restaurant space on the first level and several outdoor amenities, along with a 6-level parking garage with parking for 575 vehicles. Put simply, this isn’t just a place to come work; it’s a destination for collaboration and an extension of one’s lifestyle.

Callahan’s pre-construction expertise was on full display during the early phases of the project, as the construction team discovered soil deficiencies that had the potential to cause substantial delays to the project schedule and significant costs to the budget if not resolved as early as possible. The preconstruction team as well as Callahan’s Site Division were able to find solutions to the problem that kept the project on schedule, saved money for the client, and strengthened trust between all parties on the project.

440 Bedford will feature numerous high-end touches, including modern interiors designed to inspire, flooded with natural light and plenty of amenities to keep scientists balanced. And with its location in the sought-after Lexington and Hartwell Avenue submarket, 440 Bedford offers ease of access to both the building and nature, not to mention proximity to other innovative companies and industries along with mass transit.

“Callahan is excited to once again leverage its experience with complex projects including laboratories and research facilities, along with our robust portfolio of pre-construction services, to build 440 Bedford,” said Steve Callahan Jr., Vice President – Business Development, Callahan Construction. “The team behind this project in Lexington knows how important it is to bring this cutting-edge research space to market, and we look forward to seeing it filled with the people and projects changing our world for the better.”

For more information about Callahan’s pre-construction services, please visit https://callahan-inc.com/our-services/enhanced-preconstruction-services/.

Annual analysis of mid-sized Massachusetts companies celebrates organizations  achieving exceptional growth

BRIDGEWATER – March 7, 2024 – Callahan Construction Managers (Callahan),a full-service construction management company headquartered in Bridgewater, Mass., is excited to announce that it has been named to the Boston Business Journal’s 2024 Middle Market Leaders list, which will be celebrated at a gala event in March.

This is Callahan’s first year being named to the prestigious list tracking the 50 highest-growth middle-market companies in Massachusetts. The ranking is based on Business Journal research and includes private and public companies across multiple industries that had annual revenue between $25 million and $1 billion for 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Callahan’s history stretches back over 70 years in the Northeast, and today is one of the largest open-shop, family-owned construction management companies in the region. The company prides itself on providing clients with industry-leading preconstruction and construction management services across market segments including life sciences, affordable housing, market-rate multifamily, senior housing, hospitality, corporate interiors, retail, educational, and other markets.

“Callahan has been in a position of ongoing growth thanks to a strong core of repeat customers and exciting new business opportunities,” said Stephen Callahan, vice president / business development at Callahan. “We pride ourselves on our reputation fordelivering best-in-class services that enable us to build incredible projects on behalf of our clients, and this approach to business has enabled us to join the ranks of the Boston Business Journal’s prestigious list of Middle Market Leaders.”

Companies named to the BBJ’s list are ranked by a weighted score that takes into account the percent change in revenue between 2020 and 2022 and the actual value difference in revenue during the same time period. The score is meant to mitigate the difference between revenue growth at smaller companies versus larger companies within the middle market. Companies that did not record revenue growth from 2021 to 2022 were disqualified.

“Callahan Construction and Ironworkers Local 7 have had a working relationship for over 10 years.  In our experience, Patrick Callahan, the firm’s president, and Callahan Construction live up to their reputation of a company based on ethical, fair, and professional principles,” said Vincent Coyle Jr., business manager, Local 7 Ironworkers. “Ironworkers Local 7 is proud to have our members working on Callahan projects and looks forward to continued success in the future.  Congratulations to Callahan Construction on your well-deserved recognition as a Middle Market Leader!”

This is the fifth year of the Middle Market Leaders program. A final, ranked listing of the Middle Market Leaders will be unveiled at the awards event scheduled for March 20.

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About Callahan Construction Managers
Callahan Construction Managers is a full-service construction management company based in Bridgewater, Mass., with a regional office in White Plains, NY.  Callahan has served the New England and Northeast regions for over 70 years. As one of the region’s largest open shop construction firms, Callahan provides a wide range of preconstruction and construction management services to local, regional, and national clients. Callahan’s markets include multi-family residential, senior housing, affordable housing, hospitality, life sciences, corporate office, educational, retail and tenant fit up. Callahan was voted a 2023 “Top Place to Work” by the Boston Globe and 2022 “Best Place to Work” by the Boston Business Journal. Visit www.callahan-inc.com for more information.

Media Contact
Jeff Lavery
Pedigree Public Relations
[email protected]
508.361.7539

Associated Builders and Contractors system recognizes contractors that maintain robust safety programs in jobsite operations

BOSTON – February 22, 2024 – Callahan Construction Managers (Callahan),a full-service construction management company based in Bridgewater, Mass., announced today it has achieved Platinum-level certification in the Associated Builders and ContractorsSTEP Safety Management System. Founded more than three decades ago, STEP is a proven system that provides the framework to measure, strengthen and build industry-leading safety programs that enable top-performing ABC members to achieve incident rates nearly seven times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average.

Callahan’s senior leadership is committed to a zero-incident safety culture that empowers employees to solve real-world safety problems via comprehensive pre-construction planning, daily jobsite safety meetings, and direct interaction with building owners and occupants. With over 50 years of combined experience, the company’s safety team is responsible for multiple job site visits per week to assist with inspections, incident management, and job safety meetings with subcontractors.

“At Callahan, we have placed a priority on safety to ensure the well-being of our workers as well as seamless operations on our clients’ project sites,” said Adam Ringo, director of safety, Callahan Construction. “Thanks to every member of our team, from pre-construction managers to jobsite supervisors, we have built a culture of safety that everyone takes pride in. We are grateful to ABC for providing an impressive framework that helps contractors make safety job 1.”

STEP participants measure their safety processes and policies on key components through a detailed questionnaire with the goal of implementing or enhancing health and safety programs that reduce jobsite incidents. Callahan earned high marks in several categories, including its low EMR and incidence rate, the latter of which is less than half of the national average; a robust new hire safety orientation for employees, which includes a review of company rules, NFPA hot work training, and fall protection training; and leadership team participation in safety programs, from preconstruction planning to conducting hazard analysis within each scope of work.

“Safety is a journey, and that journey is possible because of systems like STEP, which enables ABC member contractors like Callahan to actively build health and safety into their culture, creating industry-leading, holistic safety programs to protect their workers and deliver for their clients,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development. “STEP measures performance on key components, strengthens and expands best practices and builds safety culture. Our people are our greatest asset, and I commend Callahan for consistently fulfilling those commitments to raise the bar of safety performance.”

According to ABC’s annual Safety Performance Report, STEP participants, regardless of company size or type of work, can reduce recordable incidents up to 85%, making the best-performing companies 688% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average. Ratings range from Diamond, the highest, to Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Participant.

To learn more about the STEP program, visit abc.org/step.

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About Callahan Construction Managers
Callahan Construction Managers is a full-service construction management company based in Bridgewater, Mass., with a regional office in White Plains, NY.  Callahan has served the New England and Northeast regions for over 65 years. As one of the region’s largest open shop construction firms, Callahan provides a wide range of preconstruction and construction management services to local, regional, and national clients. Callahan’s markets include multi-family residential, senior housing, affordable housing, hospitality, life sciences, corporate office, educational, retail and tenant fit up. Callahan was voted a 2021 “Top Place to Work” by the Boston Globe and “Best Place to Work” by the Boston Business Journal. Visit www.callahan-inc.com for more information.

Media Contact
Jeff Lavery
Pedigree Public Relations
[email protected]
508.361.7539

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