BOSTON, MA — Kaplan Construction, a WBE general contractor and construction management firm providing comprehensive building programs across Greater Boston, Massachusetts, announces that their work on Castle Island Brewery in South Boston has earned the company a national Excellence in Construction (EIC) Eagle Award, presented during the annual Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The EIC awards recognized 96 of the nation’s top construction projects from 2024, honoring the most outstanding construction projects, such as upgrades and renovations to hospitals and constructing hydraulic stations, sports complexes, government buildings, and airports. Kaplan won in the commercial category for projects up to $10 million.
“Our team overcame unexpected site conditions and contaminated soil in South Boston’s dense urban landscape,” said Nathan Peck, President of Kaplan Construction. “This project has always stood out to us for those reasons, and we are delighted to see it receive national recognition. It is especially gratifying to be honored for a project with Castle Island Brewing Company, a valued repeat client.”
Located within an existing industrial building, Castle Island Brewery South Boston features a 4,000-square-foot main tasting room with seating for 220 people, a retail area, and a 1,900 square feet of private event space which can accommodate up to 140 people. A quarter of Castle Island’s new space accommodates the brewing operations, including a brewhouse and seven 10-barrel tanks. During construction, Kaplan uncovered unexpected conditions in the century-old building, including an unusually thick concrete slab, underground obstructions, and deteriorated plumbing. These findings required collaboration with the structural engineer and significant adjustments, including replacing plumbing and rebuilding several walls. Other key challenges included working within the building’s compact footprint and overcoming the impacts of COVID-19.
“This project is the epitome of excellence, demonstrating quality, health, safety, and innovation in our industry,” said 2025 Chair of the ABC National Board of Directors David Pugh, Partner at Bradley in Birmingham, Alabama. “The teams at Kaplan Construction are the best of the best in merit shop construction. Castle Island Brewery South Boston is an industry-leading construction project, showing how members of ABC build projects safely, on time, and on budget. It is an honor to congratulate Kaplan for showcasing the pinnacle of construction excellence.”
A panel of industry experts served as the competition’s judges. This year’s judges included representatives from Dick’s Sporting Goods, the Design-Build Institute of America, Construction Owners Association of America, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Building Sciences, the Smithsonian Institution, and other select construction-related organizations nationwide.
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The project team members for this award-winning project include:
- Client: Castle Island Brewing Company
- Developer: National Development
- Construction Manager: Kaplan Construction
- Architect: Joe the Architect
- MEP/FP Engineer: BLW Engineers
- Structural Engineer: Souza True & Partners
