CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Nauset Construction has completed the third and final phase of a major renovation project at 300 Bent Street, a 100,000-square-foot facility serving as a mission-critical telecommunications and data infrastructure hub for multiple carriers operating across New England.
Owned by Paul Lohnes and managed through The Lohnes Company, the three-story building supports key operations for providers including Verizon, Lumen Technologies, and Lightpath Technologies.
The multi-phase renovation, designed by Khalsa Design Inc. with engineering support from Allied Engineering and Roome & Guarracino, required complex structural upgrades and carefully sequenced construction within an active, fully occupied data center.
Phase one included reconstruction of the loading dock, installation of an underground fuel tank, and replacement of the roof system. Phase two focused on a full redesign of the building’s exterior façade, reinforcing the original concrete structure and adding modern cladding, updated ribbon windows, and new tenant signage.
The recently completed phase three centered on a full transformation of the building’s lobby, including demolition and excavation of the existing entrance, construction of a new below-grade elevator mechanical room, and installation of a new elevator system, curtainwall façade, and upgraded interior finishes. Accessibility improvements included eliminating a ramp and regrading the entrance for direct ground-level access.
“Working in any occupied building always presents a degree of difficulty, but working in an occupied data center required an extraordinary level of coordination and attention to safety during construction, and Nauset delivered,” said Ken McClure, acting as owner’s representative for The Lohnes Company.
Anthony Papantonis said the project demanded precision due to both its operational sensitivity and constrained urban site conditions, including its location on a zero-lot-line property adjacent to a busy municipal facility.
“In addition to the challenges inherent to working on a highly sensitive, fully occupied data center, there was the added complexity of working on a zero-lot line site adjacent to a busy police headquarters,” he said. “Our experience with tight urban infill projects served us well.”
The completed renovation modernizes a critical digital infrastructure site while maintaining uninterrupted service for tenants that support regional and national communications networks.
