MBC Volunteers for Habitat Build Day, Celebrates Home Dedication

The Carey family of five is settling into their newly renovated home thanks to Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County.  Unable to afford a place large enough to house the whole family, this hardworking mom moved her family into her parents' modest home to save her resources while she worked full-time as a med tech and attended college part-time.  After 20 months and 200 hours of "sweat equity" including volunteer work on her own home, Sanae and her family have a newly renovated place on W. Airy Street in Norristown to call home. MBC was there to celebrate in the Home Dedication Ceremony last month and tour the space.

As part of an ongoing relationship with Habitat MontCo, the MBC crew (and family members wanting to help) was offered to participate in a Corporate Build Day rehabilitation of this home this past spring.  Our trained carpenters and staff lended their hands and expertise to the interior drywall application of the first floor main living space, ceilings, and stairwells of this twin built in the early 1900's.  The Build Day proved to be a great learning experience for our staff and overall an enjoyable experience. 

"Since the beginning of our partnership with Habitat MontCo, we wanted to help out on a project that would provide the most impact given the skills our carpenters already use day in and day out on our jobsites.  This W. Airy project was well-suited for our crew given the stage in the building process.  As a construction company, it is natural for us to partner with Habitat MontCo. We appreciate the value we can offer to Habitat and also the rewarding learning experiences it offers in return," says Paul McDonald, President.

A few months prior, the women of MBC volunteered at this very same project in the early stages of framing for Women Build Week.  Click here to read more about their experience. 

JBJ Soul Homes wins 2014 Award for Excellence by ULI Philadelphia

JBJ Soul Homes was 1 of 9 award recipients of the 2014 ULI Philadelphia's Awards for Excellence last week.  More than 70 applications for the award were received and just 9 were chosen from a national panel of jurists.

Projects selected for an award were those that best met ULI’s mission to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide; achieve excellence in the use of best practices; demonstrate quality planning and design; incorporate elements that build healthy places; promote environmental sustainability and energy reduction; achieve economic success and market acceptance; and meet community needs.

Congratulations to Project HOME, Kitchen & Associates Architects, Innova, and People for People.  A special thanks to the lead funders that made it possible: JBJ Soul Foundation, Elizabeth Moran, Leigh and John Middleton, TD Bank, and PHFA.

For a complete list of award winners click here.

North Penn Commons Breaks Ground

(Lansdale, Pa.) McDonald Building Company has been named the Construction Manager for North Penn Commons - a $12.6 million 4-story housing development that will provide affordable and transitional housing opportunities for seniors and older adults with disabilities.  More than 100 supporters gathered yesterday to celebrate the official groundbreaking and start of construction including speakers from the North Penn Community Health Foundation and funding agencies.

Located at the former Lans-Bowl property in Lansdale, North Penn Commons brings together four organizations to this $27.4 million multi-use gateway complex that will include a YMCA expansion and new locations for Manna on Main Street to operate its soup kitchen, and The PEAK Center, programs for active adults, all connected by a unified atrium.  This all-access lobby will connect the campus and serve as the heart and hub of activity for all residents, members, clients and community members.

The 82,000 sq. ft. facility will include 60 residential units for Advanced Living Communities and features on-site resident services including recreational activities, medical & educational resources, and access to supportive services and transportation for the aging community.

Construction is planned for August of this year and is expected to be complete in 13 months.

Urban Land Institute (ULI) nominates two MBC projects for 2014 Awards for Excellence

JBJ Soul Homes and 115 21st Street have both been selected as finalists for ULI Philadelphia's Inaugural Williard G. "Bill" Rouse Awards for Excellence.  The Awards for Excellence will recognize the best projects completed within the last five years in Eastern & Central PA, Southern NJ, and Delaware.

The 28 finalists were selected from the 60 nominations ULI received and represent a wide variety of project types, including adaptive reuse, commercial, residential and many more from across the tri-state region. 

Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony June 18th, 2014.

Urban Land Institute (ULI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities.

Women at MBC Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity

The women of McDonald Building Company grabbed some coffee and power tools and headed over to Airy Street in Norristown last Friday to participate in Women's Build Week for Montgomery County Habitat for Humanity's latest project.  With no experience necessary, Women's Build Week brought together a great group of women volunteers who all had the same goal in mind - to help single mom Sanae achieve her dream of owning a home. 

The original home was donated to HFHMC by an elderly couple and the interior of the home had been completely demolished since construction began in November 2013.  Our team of 5 led by Patti Post, long-time Habitat volunteer worked to reframe the home and learned some valuable construction skills along the way.  The finished home will have four bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms and plans to have the family move in end of June of this year.

"Thanks to many kind-hearted and generous supporters, our team well surpassed our fundraising goal and we raised over $2600!  Not only was Womens Build Week a great opportunity for us to learn some new skills, it was quite an empowering experience knowing our impact that day extended far beyond one day of service," says Danielle Terpoilli, Assistant Estimator. 

And they're not stopping there.  McDonald Building Company is planning a Corporate Build Day April 5th, same home, to involve the entire staff to continue their support of this family.  Check out our MBC Facebook page or HFHMC Facebook page this spring to see progress of Sanae's home. 

Want to help?  MBC Is hosting a Dining for Dollars fundraiser at Bertucci's of Audubon March 25th.  Come for lunch or dinner and 15% of your bill will go to Habitat for Humanity.  Click here for flyer.

From left to right: Joy Springer - Historical Commission of City of Phila (spouse of MBC's Brad Springer), Leslie Richards - Montgomery County Commissioner, Laura Clevenger - MBC, Danielle Terpoilli - MBC, Patti Post - HFHMC Trainer and Volunteer