DB Schenker
DB Schenker, a division of the German National Railroad and similar to the U.S. Postal Service, needed a new, purpose built facility to continue its operations in the northeastern U.S. The firm was having difficulty finding the right location as internal deadlines approached. Acorn provided a solution, accomplishing an unusually complicated set of simultaneous transactions in order to bring DB Schenker’s greater New England headquarters to completion. Because of the tenant’s timing constraints, Acorn worked with the City of Peabody on permitting the land even before the purchase and sale agreement had been signed. Concurrently, Acorn arranged for project financing, drew up a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract with a third party general contractor, and finessed the nuances of the lease.
The 50,000 square foot building was completed in a record 5.5 months, on time and below budget. It contains cutting edge warehouse space and top notch administrative offices for DB Schenker’s operations.
Patriot Ledger Building
Located in the heart of downtown Quincy is the site of the Patriot Ledger’s original headquarters. The distinctive facade was designed in the Colonial Revival Style by Boston architects Monks & Johnson. Constructed in 1924 for $95,000, the building hummed with printing presses, typewriters and news reporters for nearly 70 years until newspaper production outgrew the space.
The building sat vacant for more than a decade until Acorn purchased it, lined up tenants, and began major renovations. Acorn tailored the 31,500 SF interior to the needs of the two anchor tenants, Bay State Community Services and Quincy College. Overcoming rigorous planning board requirements, historical reviews and design-build obstacles, Acorn completed construction in 2001. Today, the Patriot Ledger building remains a vibrant cornerstone of Quincy Center’s redevelopment process.
President’s Place
President’s Place is a 370,000 square-foot office and retail space located in the heart of Quincy Center. Eight parcels were skillfully assembled for the President’s Place development. The office building features a grand central atrium and premier finishes in polished granite and red brick. Constructed in the late 1980s, the building overlooks the Church of the Presidents, where U.S. Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams are buried.
In addition to the eight-story office complex, Acorn built a 1,200 space attached garage which remains one of the three largest private garages in Massachusetts. The garage can be accessed from each floor of the office building. President’s Place is located directly across the street from the Quincy Center MBTA station and Quincy City Hall.