Frank J Manning Apartments, 237 Franklin St

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Description: Frank J. Manning Apartments is a 19-story concrete high-rise owned by Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA), originally built in 1976 with 198 units and intended as public housing for elder and disabled residents. The building was designed when electricity costs were low and concrete brutalist exteriors were popular. Since then, operating costs have increased significantly. Concrete proved ill-suited to New England winters; the building envelope was designed without thermal breaks, causing significant energy loss through the exterior. CHA engaged an architectural firm to work on existing conditions and schematic plans while the Authority established a means of funding the overall modernization scope. From prior experience with a similar high-rise, CHA knew how to leverage operational energy savings to achieve higher equity investments. The ENERGY STAR® score rose from a 1 to a 95 while improving overall resident comfort through central air conditioning and unit ventilation. The building’s CHP system also reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 1,642 metric tons more than 68 percent in four years.

Scope of Work: Fenagh’s scope of work on this project included testing & inspections of concrete, fireproofing, soil, aluminum framing, asphalt, waterproofing, air barrier, masonry, and structural steel. Learn more about Fenagh’s services here.