Giving Back: The Wellesley ABC Project
In 2022, Kevin Cradock Builders partnered with the New England Chapter of IFDA to renovate a bathroom at the Wellesley A Better Chance residence. Community service is a key component of IFDA NE and a core value for KCB.
Jacqueline Becker, Vice President for Community Service for IFDA NE, chooses philanthropic projects and presents them to the board, who overwhelmingly approved assisting Wellesley ABC. During Phase 1 of the project, Becker added donated artwork to the living room-turned-study hall. Phase 2 was the design and renovation of the second-floor bathroom at the house.
Renovating a bathroom is the largest project IFDA NE has undertaken, and Kevin Cradock Builders stepped up to oversee the entire project – from securing donations of materials and services from vendors and subcontractors to donating the KCB team to handle carpentry and construction.
Before View
After View
“The KCB team welcomed the opportunity to give back to the community, and lead the renovation of this bathroom at Wellesley ABC. We are really pleased with the end result, and thank everyone involved,” said Kevin Cradock, Founder and President of Kevin Cradock Builders.
The original second floor bath had a single sink, one toilet and one bathtub/shower combination. A plan to renovate the bathroom coincided with IFDA NE seeking a community service project and KCB’s involvement. Jess Chabot, former IFDA NE President and currently Design Director and Interior Architect at Katie Rosenfeld and Company, donated her design services to create a multi-use bathroom with a double-sink vanity, and two separate water closets with showers. The doors leading into the water closets were repurposed from another KCB job in Boston, and jambs were custom made in the Cradock Millshop. A custom set of cubbies, crafted by Materia Millwork and painted by KCB, provides storage for the residents’ toiletries.
Additional work was added to the original scope of the project in Phase 2, installing an exhaust fan and recessed lights in the bathroom below and painting additional areas including the front door.
Dan Wilson, Special Projects Manager for Kevin Cradock Builders, coordinated the project. “At the end of the day, making the world a better place is what drives us in our work - and having the opportunity to solve a functional problem, while leaving something of beauty for these young women to enjoy is a great reminder of why we do what we do,” says Wilson.
The project kicked off in July 2022 with planning, permitting, and demolition. Donated materials by vendors and extensive work included electrical, plumbing, tiling, painting, and carpentry, was all donated by the following companies:
Art of Tile and Stone
August Interiors
Benjamin Moore
Bryson Electric
Cory Manufacturing
Cosmos Painting
Clark Fine Art Services
Designer Bath
IFDA NE
Installations Plus
Jacqueline Becker Fine Arts Consulting Services
Katie Rosenfeld and Company
Kevin Cradock Builders
Lavallee Systems
Light New England
Makkas Drapery Workroom
Materia Millwork
Metropolitan Cabinets & Stone
Oasis Shower Door
Oliver Plastering
Skinner Demo
Stanhope Framers
Wellesley ABC
Since 1972 Wellesley ABC has opened doors to greater educational opportunities for academically talented and promising young women of color. These scholars attend Wellesley High School and live in a family style home with tutoring, meals, medical and social/emotional support. The program is overseen by resident directors and an army of volunteers.
After photos by Evelyn Dow. Before and during photos by Corey Nuffer.