ABOUT US
OVERVIEW
Haycon is a Boston construction and design/build firm that specializes in high-performance and Passive House building. The company was founded about 15 years ago by Patrick Haydon and David Bemiss, two Boston architects with passion for the building delivery process.
OUR SERVICES
Haycon’s broad scope of services include: pre-construction, construction management, design-assist, and general contracting.
Our diverse portfolio includes: single and multifamily residences, commercial fit-outs, passive houses, and renovation projects. However, we currently prioritize midsize multifamily Passive House projects.
OUR APPROACH
We prioritize vital information for permitting, scheduling, and cost throughout the design and entitlement process. We remove needless soft costs and planning efforts in order to yield high-quality finished builds in a timely manner.
Haycon provides clients with a small company experience while providing levels of expertise and project accounting found in large companies. As a result, our clients can expect an extremely smooth building process.
OUR EVOLUTION
Our Generation 1 projects are generally smaller in size and scope and are less energy-efficient than our Generation 2 projects. We've used the knowledge and expertise that we have gained through building Generation 1 projects to guide our transition into the midsize multifamily high-performance and Passive House projects that we specialize in now. Although our Generation 1 projects no longer represent the current scope and focus of our work, we proudly showcase them because we believe they speak to our craftsmanship and highlight our evolution.
Our innovative Generation 2 projects leverage new technologies and more advanced building techniques as a means to create more energy efficient LEED and PHIUS-certified dwellings. They are representative of Haycon's future-forward approach and commitment to Passive House building. Each new build is a chance for us to outdo ourselves and further lower the energy consumption of our builds.
Our ultimate goal is to fill our portfolio with 100% Net Zero/carbon-neutral buildings. In order to achieve this, we'll continue to use Passive House techniques that reduce embodied carbon and overall energy expenditure. In addition, we will use renewable energy sources to offset what little energy is consumed by our builds over the long-term.
This goal is not far off. We're taking very large strides in order to lower the energy demands of our builds over time.
OUR COMMITMENT TO PASSIVE HOUSE BUILDING
Rampant GHG and carbon emissions have caused significant damage to our environment, and now we must work to restore it. The building sector in particular is to blame for about 39% of all carbon emissions in the US. Having been such a large part of the problem, building professionals now have a large role to play in providing solutions. By lowering our emissions, Haycon aims to help the city of Boston reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
Energy efficiency has always been one of our top priorities. However, we’ve taken on a new approach to energy efficient building. Several of our team members have taken the necessary steps to become certified Passive House builders and consultants, and we have made the decision to design and build all future projects to meet Passive House certification standards. To learn exactly what this entails, we suggest looking at the Passive House Institute US website.
Why Passive House?
To meet stringent Passive House standards, we must minimize our buildings’ energy usage and energy loss to the greatest extent possible! We do so by: avoiding the use of fossil fuels, creating tightly-sealed and insulated enclosure systems, utilizing renewable resources, and installing central ERV systems, high performance windows, etc. Such methods, once adopted nationwide, can reduce building sector-related GHG emissions by 25% from 2005 levels by 2030. These building methods can also be useful in reducing the time and money spent working on a project, making our builds more lucrative for us and for building owners.
So far, we have one finished Passive House, three under construction, one in the preconstruction phase, and many more to come!
AWARDS
The National Preservation Awards are given to people and entities whose skill and determination have given new meaning to their communities through preservation of our architectural and cultural heritage.
Utile and Haycon’s entry for the Triple Decker Challenge won runner-up! We had a great time working with our friends at Utile on cost projections and practical high performance details. We are thrilled at this outcome and would like to thank everyone who voted!
PARTNERS
We are proud to support YouthBuild. YouthBuild programs uplift low-income young people by helping them rebuild their communities. Their programs provide pathways to jobs, education, and other opportunities that can lead to fruitful lives.