October 2026 35

Grace Chapel interior Grace Chapel interior / Photo courtesy of Maugel DeStefano Architects

Lexington, Mass. – Maugel DeStefano Architects has completed a 10,000sf renovation of administrative offices for Grace Chapel at 2 Militia Drive.

The project reconfigured existing office space to support Grace Chapel’ s administrative and operational functions. It added offices, conference rooms and a staff breakroom, and improved the building’ s exterior roof system. The design is intended to give the organization a more efficient and collaborative workplace with flexibility for future growth.

Maugel has worked with Grace Chapel for over a decade, and this is the firm’ s fourth location for the organization. It previously designed worship, community and administrative spaces for Grace Chapel’ s campus in Wilmington, Mass.

Project partners included Pinnacle Construction as contractor, Shepherd Engineering as electrical engineer, Design Day Mechanicals as mechanical engineer and SFC Engineering Partnership as fire protection engineer.

“ This project demonstrates how strategic workplace design can strengthen day-to-day operations while creating an environment that supports collaboration and organizational growth,” said Colby

Cavanagh, studio leader at Maugel DeStefano Architects.“ We’ re grateful for the opportunity to continue our relationship with Grace Chapel by creating a workplace that serves its staff and mission for years to come.”

“ I am profoundly grateful for the way Maugel DeStefano Architects protected our budget and timeline and fought to ensure we never sacrificed quality for cost,” said Peter Holscher, director of operations at Grace Chapel.“ Beyond clear communication and constant availability, they made a complex process feel like a true partnership.”

Grace Chapel interior / Photo courtesy of Maugel DeStefano Architects

Swampscott, Mass. – MassHousing has closed on the final financing for the 114- unit Westcott, which was developed by WinnCompanies on a former industrial site following approval by the Town of Swampscott through Chapter 40B.

The mixed-income community opened in July 2025 and is a highly energy efficient and transit-oriented development a quarter mile from the town’ s commuter rail station and on an MBTA bus line.

“ MassHousing is thrilled for the residents of The Westcott who have brand new, energy efficient apartment homes within walking distance to commuter rail and bus lines,” said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay.“ We were pleased to partner with WinnCompanies and the Town of Swampscott to transform a blighted industrial parcel in a residential neighborhood into this new housing for residents with a range of incomes.”

MassHousing recently closed on $ 14 million in permanent financing, which was the final financing piece of the $ 69.1 million development. The project was completed with two transactions involving 4 % and 9 % Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.

MassHousing additionally provided $ 12.2 million in tax credit bridge financing and $ 2.2 million in workforce housing financing for a project total of $ 28.4 million.

Other financing sources included $ 37.5 million in federal and state LIHTCs, $ 38.7 million in construction financing from Bank of America, $ 7 million in American Rescue Plan Act financing through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities( EOHLC), an additional $ 3 million in ARPA financing through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, $ 5.4 million in direct EOHLC financing, $ 246,000 in local HOME financing and $ 49,000 in Swampscott Affordable Housing Trust financing. The MBTA

Westcott Apartments

provided an easement for the creation of additional resident parking.

Of the 114 apartments, 16 are restricted to households earning up to 30 % of the Area Median Income( AMI), 62 apartments for households earning up to 60 % of AMI, 16 apartments are workforce housing units for households earning up to 110 % of AMI, and 20 units are rented at market rates. The Westcott features three studio units, 71 one-bedroom apartments, 28 two-bedroom apartments and 12 threebedroom apartments.

In addition to dramatically transforming an unsightly industrial parcel positioned in the middle of a residential neighborhood, the construction

effort significantly improved the public streets, sidewalks and crosswalks abutting the property.

Built to stringent Passive House standards, The Westcott reduces operational carbon emissions by 58 %. Sustainability features include a 50-kW rooftop photovoltaic array supplying 35 % of the site’ s electricity, triple-glazed windows, LED lighting, high-efficiency heat pumps for heating and cooling, energy recovery ventilation systems, high-performance exterior wall insulation, Energy Star appliances, and low-flow plumbing fixtures to help conserve water usage.

Resident amenities include a threeseason rooftop deck and grilling area with views of the Atlantic Ocean and Boston skyline, a fitness center, private workspaces, a dedicated pet washing station, a lobby exhibit featuring the work of a local artist, electric vehicle charging stations and a covered parking area. The lobby also features a screen displaying the real-time status of mass transit options and there are two indoor and three outdoor bicycle storage areas.

Cranshaw Construction was the general contractor, The Architectural Team was the architect, and Hancock Associates provided engineering services.

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