BOSTON— Building its presence as a top construction management firm, Corderman
& Company recently completed a multi-floor renovation for Zipcar, the world’s leading car-sharing company headquartered at 35 Thomson Place in the heart of Boston’s Innovation District. Corderman & Company offered its expertise in pre-construction and construction management services for the office renovation.
Corderman is more than familiar with the area’s historic brick-and-beam construction, having occupied and renovated such offices in South Boston during its 22 years in business. Subsequently, there was a certain allure to working at 35 Thomson Place, where the team would feel right at home.
Corderman & Company was excited at the prospect of continuing to establish the firm’s footprint at Thomson Place. A sundry of Corderman-built spaces within the block includes the following: Cosentino, Forcepoint, Crosspoint Associates, Grace Loves Lace, Seismic, Bartaco, Catalant Technologies, and DTCC, among others.
During Zipcar’s office transformation, the project team navigated some of the building’s more antiquated architectural features, which proved difficult at times. In reflecting on project challenges, Joe Bina, Corderman Superintendent, noted that the lack of a loading dock and freight elevator required a unique method of delivering materials. While some had to be carried up the stairs, others involved the utilization of a crane to perform deliveries directly into the space on the 4th, 5th, and 6th floors. This equipment was implemented with exceptional risk mitigation tactics, extensive coordination, and pre-task planning by the entire project team.
With the project spanning multiple floors, Corderman Laborers Gumercindo (Gumo) Buenrostro and Luis Martinez ensured that each of the three levels, as well as all stairways, remained clean and protected.
Further, they helped the Superintendent manage the site, monitoring compliance with construction safety guidelines and supporting the quality control efforts across trades.
When asked about the Zipcar buildout, Rich Daly, who filled in as Superintendent for the final months, had only praise for the project team. Rich was integral in closing out the project and emphasized that “the trade partners and entire Corderman team had all the pieces lined up, making it as easy as painting by numbers to put it all in place.”
In 2013, Zipcar moved from Cambridge to its current headquarters at 35 Thomson Place. Nearly two decades later, Zipcar required a complete renovation that could match the innovative car-sharing network’s energy and exude Zipcar’s distinct branding while continuing to support its mission – to enable simple and responsible urban living.
The new office features a transformative new café for large meetings and events, added huddle and meeting rooms for collaborative spaces, and design and finish elements to visually connect the three floors. An assortment of decals and artwork throughout creatively emphasize Zipcar’s logo, colors, and overall branding. Additionally, the firm’s commitment to sustainability practices is undeniable, with thorough consideration and awareness evident through the company’s material selection and site means
and methods.
Zipcar was founded in 2000 in Cambridge, MA by two women entrepreneurs who were driven by two insights: that the personally owned vehicle is incredibly inefficient (it sits idle, unused 96% of the time, and is often the second most expensive cost after home ownership), and secondly that the world needs smarter, more sustainable and equitable mobility options. By sharing, Zipcar eliminates up to 13 personally owned vehicles for each Zipcar on the road. Fewer vehicles on the road reduce congestion, carbon emissions, and parking competition while creating more space for people to enjoy. One of the first
entrepreneurial companies to move to the Innovation and Design District, Zipcar is now surrounded by a neighborhood that champions innovators and supports an array of tech companies, biotech firms, and pioneering new ventures.
Corderman & Company extends gratitude to the project partners and teams that made this buildout so successful: Zipcar, Crosspoint Associates, Redgate, Visnick & Caulfield Associates, and Avid Engineers. The Corderman team consisted of Barrie Ferraro (Principal-in-Charge), Laura Fraioli Larkin (Senior Project Manager), Cadman Corbett (Senior Estimator), Serena Kauffman (Assistant Project Manager), Joe Bina & Rich Daly (Superintendents), Luis Martinez & Gumo Buenrostro (Laborers), Corderman Carpentry, Lewis Hopkins & Victor Cavero (Trucking), and David MacNeil (Director of Field Operations).
Corderman & Company is proud to have been part of Zipcar’s story here in Boston and looks forward to seeing all that the company accomplishes in its new space.
