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about a future neighbor and homeowner by the contractor they have chosen. We want to make certain that the impression transferred is positive." This attention to neighborliness led The Lagasse Group to another project, almost directly across the street from the previously noted project. "One day, the neighbor stopped me and asked, 'Do you want to work on something small?' The first project was a garage renova- tion, and we have recently begun a larger addition to the rear of the home," Kevin says, adding, "so, word of mouth is our best market- ing technique so far!" Another project The Lagasse Group The bathroom on the lower level is open and lets the natural sunlight in. "As part of our proposal, we built a 3-D computer model of the proposed house, so we could really study and understand every aspect in advance. Our proposal also included several cost analyses, which, when combined with our work on the project model, gave the client a high level of pre- dictability for the project," Kevin recalls. The finished project — a 12,000-square- foot residence including a full, finished basement — is testament to this thoughtful approach. The stone and stucco exterior finishes give the home a traditional look and feel that belies its new construction. Both Lagasses agree that in construction, as in many aspects of life, perception is reality. "It was drummed into me at Suffolk that while it's important the project run well internally, it was also vitally important to pay attention to how our projects were perceived from the outside looking in. Were our job sites kept clean? Were our parking restrictions enforced? Were the neighbors kept abreast of upcoming work?" notes Kevin. Nancy adds, "Our communication with clients and neighbors is critical to the success of a project. We keep in touch regularly with neighbors to let them know what to anticipate. We distribute our e-mail addresses and cell- phone numbers at the beginning of a job. We also are very clear with our subcontractors and suppliers about jobsite etiquette. Wrong or right, the neighborhood gets an impression 18 | GREATER BOSTON Builder+Architect BOSTON.BUILDERARCHITECT.COM undertook is not a typical residential project. The firm recently completed work for the Bosse Sports club when it expanded into a new facility in Cambridge to create the Bosse City Club. The project included renovations to a 15,000-square-foot sports club and the creation of a new executive wing that repli- cates the services and finishes of the facility in Sudbury, MA. "It was a different project for us, with much that was cutting edge. While we normally don't focus on commercial work, this project did have complexity and a high-end client base, which fit with our focus," notes Kevin. In addition to building a strong perception of their firm, Kevin and Nancy have focused on making residential construction a less difficult process for their clients. "The building process does not need to be difficult. It's certainly more challenging than ever with construction material advance- ments, smart home technologies and energy code requirements, which make it more complicated," explains Kevin, "but we work hard to stay ahead of it all, so the process COVER FEATURE