July 2021
Paddy’s Lunch
260 Walden Street, Cambridge
Paddy’s Lunch is the oldest family owned pub in Cambridge. They have been, as they say, serving cold beer and warm friends since 1934. It’s the perfect place to bend an elbow and get to know your neighbors. On September 26th, they will be holding their annual 5K in support of Cambridge girls’ sports, including the Cambridge Girls’ Softball League, followed by a block party. SKA is excited to be one of the event sponsors, and several of our team members will be participating.
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
At SKA, we work with a wide variety of clients and budgets, and one of the biggest challenges that we have faced over this past year has been accurately predicting where construction costs will land. In the past, we could bracket approximate costs within reason for our clients, so that when contractor estimates come in, the results are close to what we expected. When the pandemic hit last year, most people anticipated residential construction and design to slow down significantly and the costs of labor and materials to drop in response to an expected recession. Everyone, including our firm, was stunned by the paradoxical increase in residential design and construction and the supply chain issues and material and labor shortages that have all followed it.
We work to stay up to date on what our most recent projects track out at in costs in an effort to provide future guidance for upcoming projects; however, this past year has been challenging, as some projects that would have historically cost X now cost 1.5X or 2X, with all the same materials, labor, etc. And these costs are fluctuating at an unpredictable rate.
SKA continues to pride ourselves on being as up to date as we can through this pandemic and providing the best information available for expectant construction costs. However, it is worth noting that if you are planning for a renovation or a construction project in the near future, that you research the current market costs of labor and materials, instead of relying on “my brother did his kitchen for x amount 10 years ago, how can ours cost double that now?” Costs have risen, and being aware of that before getting deep into a project is better than discovering that after your project is well underway.
We understand that it is a challenge to stomach the increased costs for building or renovating a home, which are apparent in just about every major sector of the industry; however, the good news is that real estate values have soared along with design and construction costs. Many clients have been able to access HELOC’s or refinance their homes to fund their projects. Other clients decided to move instead of renovate, only to find an ultra-competitive real estate market, and many have returned to us months later to proceed with a renovation.
If you would like to discuss a project or an idea or just say hi, please reach out to us. We are currently working in Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Boston, Arlington, and the Lakes Region in New Hampshire. While costs are up, planning ahead and allowing for extra time to source materials can help temper these budget and timeline issues.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Storefront to Home
Originally built in 1886 as a storefront in Central Square, SKA recently had the opportunity to contribute to the storied history of this commercial-turned-residential home. Primary objectives of the proposed work sought to update the functionality of the interior space, while also highlighting and contributing to the home’s acute, one-of-a-kind detailing. While it was important to the clients to maintain the original historic exterior of the home, when walking through the finished interior, one can witness the 130+ years of architectural progression, as well as the home’s collective timelessness. Included in the scope of work was the full gut and reorganization of the kitchen, an old sitting room turned bathroom and dressing room, and a renovation of the primary bedroom. Each nook of this home is filled with a unique detail, and SKA tremendously enjoyed working with the clients to realize this project’s many creative solutions.
