Keene, New Hampshire, September 19, 2025
News Summary
Chapman Construction/Design has been selected to oversee construction of a 6,000-square-foot headquarters for the Monadnock Conservancy that will achieve Net Zero energy usage. The one-story, wood-framed facility will include offices, community meeting space, regenerative site work and on-site stormwater management. The project pairs low-carbon materials (Pozzotive, Glavel foam glass gravel) with offsite, panelized assembly from Bensonwood, battery-powered tool trials with Milwaukee Tools, and a renewable power agreement with Eversource. Sheldon Pennoyer Architects provides the low-energy design and locally milled ash and site-harvested wood will be reused as interior features.
Chapman Construction/Design to oversee Net Zero 6,000-sf Monadnock Conservancy headquarters
Chapman Construction/Design has been selected to oversee construction of a new headquarters building for the Monadnock Conservancy. The project is a one-story, wood-framed building that will be 6,000 square feet and is planned to achieve Net Zero energy usage when complete. The lead contractor brings deep experience in high-performance building and will use value-engineering and other approaches to help the conservancy meet its environmental goals while keeping costs under control.
What the project will include
The new facility will include office areas and community meeting space. The building program adds regenerative site improvements and a stormwater management system. Designers aim to limit both energy use and carbon emissions through a range of novel solutions and a low-energy, high-performance design prepared by Sheldon Pennoyer Architects of Concord, New Hampshire. Sheldon Pennoyer Architects will also donate locally sourced ash that will be milled and used within the building.
Net Zero explained
For this project, Net Zero energy usage is defined here as generating as much renewable energy on site as the building consumes over the course of a year. Chapman’s experience in energy-efficient design and construction is described as deep, and the firm will apply that background to ensure the finished building meets the stated Net Zero target.
Partners, materials and offsite methods
Several subcontractors and partners were identified during pre-construction to supply sustainable materials and methods. Pozzotive was identified as a partner/subcontractor for the project; Pozzotive is a ground glass pozzolan and industrial filler made from recycled post-consumer glass. Glavel foam glass gravel was identified for use as subslab insulation. Chapman also has a partnership with Milwaukee Tools for the project; the Milwaukee Tools partnership is intended to demonstrate the carbon-reduction impact of using high-performance, battery-powered tools.
Offsite construction will be part of the strategy. Bensonwood of Walpole, New Hampshire will supply an offsite, panelized construction system that is meant to cut down on travel to and from the jobsite, reduce the project’s carbon impact, and expedite assembly of a higher-quality, weather-tight structure with significantly less construction waste.
Utilities, team coordination and reclaimed materials
Chapman will partner with utility company Eversource to ensure the Conservancy’s power is supplied by 100% renewable resources. Michael Bruss of Bruss Project Management played a key role in bringing together the high-performance building team and facilitated the process for assembling the project team. Several trees removed during site preparation will be milled and incorporated into the project as feature elements.
The project will allow the non-profit Monadnock Conservancy to relocate from rented space into a permanent home. Amanda Littleton is the executive director of the Monadnock Conservancy. Amanda Littleton said the new headquarters represents the culmination of many years of planning and implementing strategies to serve the community with minimal environmental impact. Amanda Littleton said working with Chapman enabled the Conservancy to engage a partner that prioritizes energy efficiency and intelligent re-use.
Project goals, schedule and broader context
The immediate goals are to deliver a low-energy, low-carbon, durable headquarters that supports office work and community programs while demonstrating practical sustainable construction choices. Chapman will apply innovative approaches to value-engineering on the Conservancy project so the non-profit can meet ambitious environmental goals while staying within budget.
The one-story wood-framed building, local reclaimed wood elements, regenerative landscaping, energy-efficient systems, and renewable power sourcing are all part of a coordinated plan to deliver a highly efficient, low-impact facility that can serve the region for decades.
Related construction activity in the region
The conservancy project joins a string of recent regional starts and groundbreakings, including hospital emergency department expansions, mixed-use residential projects, and nonprofit headquarters efforts that also emphasize quality design and community benefit.
FAQ
Where is Chapman Construction/Design based?
Chapman Construction/Design is based in Manchester, New Hampshire.
What is Chapman Construction/Design?
Chapman Construction/Design is a construction management company.
What does Chapman specialize in?
Chapman Construction/Design specializes in high-performance building.
What has Chapman been selected to do?
Chapman Construction/Design has been selected to oversee construction of a new headquarters building for the Monadnock Conservancy.
How large will the new headquarters be?
The Monadnock Conservancy’s new headquarters will be 6,000 square feet.
Will the building be Net Zero?
The new Monadnock Conservancy building will achieve Net Zero energy usage when complete.
How is Net Zero defined for this project?
Net Zero energy usage is defined here as generating as much renewable energy on site as the building consumes over the course of a year.
How experienced is Chapman with energy-efficient design?
Chapman’s experience in energy-efficient design and construction is described as “deep.”
What is Chapman’s role in budgeting and design?
Chapman will use innovative approaches to value-engineering on the Conservancy project.
What benefit does the project provide to the Conservancy?
The project will allow the non-profit Monadnock Conservancy to relocate from rented space into a permanent home.
What is the building form?
The project is a new one-story wood-framed building.
What program spaces will be included?
The building program includes offices.
The building program includes community meeting space.
What site work is planned?
The project includes regenerative site improvements.
The project includes a stormwater management system.
Will the project limit energy usage and carbon emissions?
The new facility will incorporate numerous novel solutions for limiting energy usage.
The new facility will incorporate numerous novel solutions for limiting carbon emissions.
Which subcontractors and partners were identified?
Chapman identified several subcontractors and partners during the pre-construction phase to provide sustainable building materials.
Pozzotive was identified as a partner/subcontractor for the project.
Pozzotive is described as a ground glass pozzolan and industrial filler made from recycled post-consumer glass.
Glavel foam glass gravel was identified for use as subslab insulation.
Chapman has a partnership with Milwaukee Tools for the project.
The Milwaukee Tools partnership is intended to demonstrate the carbon-reduction impact of using high-performance, battery-powered tools.
Bensonwood (based in Walpole, New Hampshire) will provide an offsite, panelized construction system for the project.
Bensonwood’s offsite, panelized system will cut down on travel to and from the jobsite to reduce the project’s carbon impact.
Bensonwood’s system is expected to expedite assembly of a higher-quality, weather-tight structure.
Bensonwood’s approach is expected to produce significantly less construction waste.
Chapman will partner with utility company Eversource on the project.
The partnership with Eversource is to ensure the Conservancy’s power is supplied by 100% renewable resources.
Who designed the project?
The project’s designer is Sheldon Pennoyer Architects, based in Concord, New Hampshire.
Sheldon Pennoyer Architects will provide a low-energy, high-performance design for the building.
Sheldon Pennoyer Architects will donate locally sourced ash that will be milled and used within the building.
Who coordinated the project team?
Michael Bruss of Bruss Project Management played a key role in bringing together the high-performance building team.
Michael Bruss facilitated the process for assembling the project team.
Will any onsite trees be reused?
Several trees removed during site preparation will be milled and incorporated into the project as feature elements.
Who is the Conservancy’s executive director?
Amanda Littleton is the executive director of the Monadnock Conservancy.
What did Amanda Littleton say about the project?
Amanda Littleton said the new headquarters represents the culmination of many years of planning and implementing strategies to serve the community with minimal environmental impact.
Amanda Littleton said working with Chapman enabled the Conservancy to engage a partner that prioritizes energy efficiency and intelligent re-use.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project lead | Chapman Construction/Design (based in Manchester, New Hampshire) |
| Owner | Monadnock Conservancy (moving from rented space into permanent home) |
| Size | 6,000 square feet |
| Form | One-story wood-framed building |
| Energy target | Net Zero energy usage |
| Design | Sheldon Pennoyer Architects (low-energy, high-performance design) |
| Offsite construction partner | Bensonwood (offsite, panelized construction system) |
| Key sustainable materials | Pozzotive (ground glass pozzolan), Glavel foam glass gravel (subslab insulation) |
| Tool partner | Milwaukee Tools (to demonstrate carbon-reduction using battery-powered tools) |
| Utility partner | Eversource (to ensure power is supplied by 100% renewable resources) |
| Reclaimed materials | Locally sourced ash from Sheldon Pennoyer Architects and milled trees from site |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- New England Real Estate Journal: Chapman Construction selected for Monadnock Conservancy project
- Wikipedia: Monadnock Conservancy
- New Hampshire Business Review: People and property — real estate and construction news from around NH
- Google Search: Monadnock Conservancy Net Zero headquarters
- BD+C: Manchester modular hotel is constructed of shipping containers
- Google Scholar: Modular construction shipping container hotels
- Treehugger: Construction industry will be disrupted by marriage of modular and shipping container
- Encyclopedia Britannica: modular construction
- Albert Lea Tribune: This week in history — local/state leaders tour Manchester wind farm construction site
- Google News: Manchester wind farm construction
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