Construction Update - Excavation and Foundation
Winter vs. Momentum: Progress at Cedar Park One64
Winter in New England isn't exactly for the faint of heart, but at the Essex St, Melrose project, the "freeze" only applied to the temperature—not our momentum. Since the first equipment mobilization back in September, the site has been a whirlwind of activity, transforming from a raw lot into a structured foundation ready for the next big phase.
Building from the Ground Up
Before we could look up, we had to go deep. We kicked things off with site-wide ground improvements, ensuring the stability of the project for decades to come. From there, our crews moved into a methodical rhythm:
The excavation crew cleared the path through varying soil conditions.
The foundation crew poured footings & piers to establish the "feet" of the building as well as tackling the foundation walls one strategic section at a time, circling the site until the perimeter of our first floor common and amenity space was fully secured.
Getting this project out of the ground required a lot of heavy lifting. We’d like to acknowledge Diaz Construction Co. for their work on the site prep and foundation. In particular, their foundation crew did a solid job navigating the winter conditions to get the footings and walls poured, keeping us on track for our steel delivery.
Check out the progress from the past few months to see the transformation from a September start to being ready for a January arrival of steel.
Thinking Ahead: The Elevator Shaft
One of the most exciting milestones happened while the foundation was still being finalized. We didn't wait to finish the perimeter before looking upward; work on the elevator shaft has also begun. Seeing the first signs of vertical construction gave everyone a hint of the building's eventual scale.
What’s Next: The Steel Age
If you’ve driven by the site today, you might have noticed some heavy metal. The first trucks of steel arrived this morning! The arrival of steel marks a major transition for 164 Essex St. Starting next week, we move from the "dirt and concrete" phase into steel assembly. This is where the building truly starts to take its shape.
