MassDevelopment

Boston’s Metric Construction to Build Multi-Family Green Housing in Devens


October 11, 2011


Contacts:
Kelsey Abbruzzese, MassDevelopment, 617-330-2086 & 617-448-9077
William Anderson, Metric, 617-787-1158

Metric Corporation, a Boston-based contractor and developer and an established industry leader, and its subsidiary, Devens Net Zero LLC have been approved to build 12 moderately-priced, attractive, super energy-efficient townhouses on a 1.2 acre site on Bates Street in Devens.

“This second phase of the green housing pilot project will show our capacity to build affordable, multi-family, and energy-efficient homes,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development and MassDevelopment Board Chair Gregory P. Bialecki. “Metric Corporation's units, along with Transformation's single-family homes, will serve as models for green housing development across the Commonwealth.”

MassDevelopment selected Metric Corporation from a group of four developers competing for the right to purchase residential lots and build energy-efficient homes in Devens. Metric Corporation has over 30 years of experience within the construction industry with expertise in multi-unit residential, nonprofit, commercial, academic, retail and institutional work along the East Coast. The company uses sustainable practices in its construction and brings significant experience as a builder and developer to the project.

Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc., a renowned architectural firm based in Cambridge, will design the homes and Steven Winter Associates will provide building systems consulting. Steven Winter Associates manages CARB, the Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings, one of the Building America research teams sponsored by the US Department of Energy.

MassDevelopment also announced last fall that Transformations of Townsend would build eight single-family homes adjacent to the slated 12-unit project at Adams Circle in Devens. Two of those homes are now under construction. When complete, the Devens green housing pilot project will have 20 homes. Developers will document energy consumption in the homes for a year after occupancy to demonstrate the effectiveness of their construction methods.

“With its large portfolio of projects and clients, Metric Corporation has shown it has the knowledge and skill necessary to build these moderately-priced, sustainable townhouses,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “We look forward to seeing the energy savings from both the Transformations and Metric homes during this first phase of green residential development in Devens.”

“Metric is excited to begin this green housing project and be a part of the Devens community,” said Metric Vice President of Real Estate Development Bill Anderson. “Building these townhouses will allow us to invest in both Devens and the progress of sustainable home development in Massachusetts.”

The Devens project supports and helps to implement the Patrick Administration’s goals for zero-net-energy development in Massachusetts. By creating both green-energy jobs and attractive green housing at a reasonable price, this project will also fulfill ongoing twin objectives at MassDevelopment – to increase economic development activity and increase the availability of housing options that promote sustainability.

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2011, MassDevelopment financed or managed 277 projects generating investment of nearly $3.7 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are projected to create 10,291 jobs (2,507 permanent and 7,784 construction) and 1,350 housing units (336 new and 1,014 rehab).