Mc Gowan Builders breaks ground on Cenacle Sisters Convent and Retreat: A $20 million, 46,000 s/f green project

Mc Gowan Builders, Inc. (MGB) broke ground for the $20 million Cenacle Sisters Convent and Retreat. Cenacle Sisters is an international religious congregation of Catholic nuns that serves the spiritual needs of people in 16 countries. The convent's architect, Hawkins Webb Jaeger PLLC, in collaboration with the congregation's designer and construction manager Hoffman LLC, designed the facility to meet LEED Gold requirements. "We are proud to serve as general contractor for this magnificent, 46,000 s/f structure," said MGB president & CEO Patrick Mc Gowan. "The new Cenacle Sisters' convent will be the crowning jewel in Mc Gowan Builder's portfolio of 'green' and LEED-certified projects." The new building will house a chapel, four season prayer space with a covered loggia, offices and administrative areas, dining facilities, meeting and spiritual direction rooms, ten sister rooms with two guest rooms and household layouts, 24 private residences with one room and a bath, craft and music room, community room/library, bathing spa, laundry, and garages. According to MGB project manager Patrick Monahan, "The project integrates numerous environmentally-friendly components, including high-efficiency boilers, fluorescent lights, low-flow shower heads and faucets, extensive daylighting through clerestory windows, and a geothermal heating and cooling water system." In the initial phase, MGB demolished the pre-existing building, while preserving numerous historical elements to be re-used in the new facility, including roof tiles and sculptures. The team performed the demolition in an environmentally sensitive manner that encompassed re-use of salvaged materials and architectural components, and recycling of the debris. In addition to Mc Gowan Builders, Hawkins Webb Jaeger, and Hoffman LLC, the project team includes structural engineer Dewberry-Goodkind, Inc., and civil engineer Nelson & Pope. The Cenacle Sisters have established a fundraising campaign for this project. If you wish to donate, please call (631) 588-8366. Mc Gowan Builders is a full-service general contracting and construction management firm with an annual volume of projects exceeding $100 million.