In the News

Providence, RI – May 7, 2007 – Shawmut Design and Construction, along with architect Sasaki Associates, recently began construction of a new Therapeutic Aquatic Center for the New England Center for Children in Southborough, MA.

The $5 million aquatic center will take approximately ten months to complete and will include locker rooms and a conference room, in addition to a competition-size pool area.

The New England Center for Children, which serves children with autism, spent four years raising the funds to construct the center and is excited about the opportunities it will present to their students.

“First of all, kids with autism are strongly attracted to water. They love to swim,” said Vincent Strully, Jr., Executive Director and Founder. “This will be tremendously valuable for us. It provides opportunities for learning, self-esteem activities and therapy.”

“In the past, we had only limited access to some pools in the community,” Strully continued. “They would maybe get to go once a month, and then it would sometimes fall. Now every student will swim at least once a week, probably twice.”

With the school remaining operational during the ground-up construction, Shawmut is utilizing site-specific safety plans and imposing site access work hour restrictions. The scope of work includes extensive sitework, structural steel, M/E/P systems, roofing, architectural millwork, and finishes. Construction began in early April and will be completed next fall.

“We are very excited to be able to work on this project for the New England Center for Children,” said Frank Hayes, Vice President of Shawmut’s New England Group. “The new Therapeutic Aquatic Center will provide such a valuable service to the NECC and its children. We are very fortunate to be a part of it.”

Shawmut has completed projects for several other New England non-profit associations including Central Boston Elder Services, Trinity Church in the City of Boston, and YWCA Boston.