Boston, Massachusetts Nov 10, 2022 (Issuewire.com) - D.F. Pray General Contractors recently joined industry colleagues at the Boston Preservation Alliance Awards to receive the 2022 Preservation Alliance Award for The Charles River Speedway project. For over 30 years the Alliance has presented awards to people and projects that demonstrate the highest level of commitment to Boston’s historic character.
“The Charles River Speedway project was a unique program that is a testament to the quality workmanship required to thoughtfully restore historic structures,” notes Scott W. Pray, President of D.F. Pray. “The team dedicated to this project since 2014, from the State and City agencies, design, engineering, construction, community engagement, curation, etc., were all invested in transforming this vacant, dilapidated structure and giving it new life to serve the community.”
The Speedway in Brighton was built in stages beginning in 1899 when city dwellers called for more green space. For over forty years, the complex grew to include several structures including horse stables, a Superintendent’s residence, and a nine-bay car garage. For over fifteen years the Speedway was mostly vacant. The Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) was not able to find a new use for its original property. Then, in 2014, DCR selected The Architectural Heritage Foundation (AHF) to preserve and redevelop The Speedway through the agency’s Historic Curatorship Program. AHF proposed converting the complex into a public resource that would support local entrepreneurs, serve as a community gathering space, and connect the neighborhood to the Charles River.
D.F. Pray was engaged as a General Contractor for the transformation of this 19th-century trotting horse stable and metropolitan park police station and jail on the Charles River. The historic buildings and their central courtyard were transformed into a space that is now home to a mix of independent businesses and nonprofits, who are creating jobs, encouraging entrepreneurship, and highlighting the neighborhood’s vibrant and creative community. Additionally, The Speedway was recognized by Preservation Massachusetts with a 2022 Robert H. Kuehn Jr. award honoring the extraordinary projects that meld collaborative partnerships with creative and innovative ideas for the rehabilitation and active reuse of historic buildings. Watch to learn more about this unique project
“The Speedway is proof that any property, no matter how challenging, can be brought back to life with the right team. AHF went above and beyond to collaborate with the neighborhood, find partners and financial resources, and deliver a restored, vibrant resource to the community,” Allison Frazee, Executive Director, of Boston Preservation Alliance.
About D.F. Pray: Founded in 1959, D.F. Pray is a construction management services provider offering design/build and general contracting services in the U.S. and Canada. Revolutionary thinking and unparalleled results with a safety-first mindset are at the core of what we do. D.F Pray is a single-source contractor with the experience and expertise to manage complex projects from design and planning through construction and project delivery. The firm's portfolio includes new construction, renovation/remodel, and tenant fit-out focused on multi-unit housing, senior/assisted living, commercial, industrial, retail, and education markets. With headquarters in Seekonk, MA, D.F. Pray employs more than one hundred industry professionals in its offices located in Dedham, MA, Nashville, TN, New Bedford, MA, and Toronto, Canada. offices throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit www.dfpray.com.
Media Contact
Mark Kaplan mkaplan@dfpray.com 508-336-3366 25 Anthony Street, Seekonk, MA http://www.dfpray.com
