CREW Boston members gathered at the Boston Harbor Hotel for the May Luncheon Program highlighting Worcester’s evolving commercial real estate market and the transformative GreenTech Park development. The program featured Roberta Brien, Executive Vice President of the Worcester Business Development Corporation (WBDC), in conversation with Shawn McGuinness, Director of Design Management of Bowdoin Construction.
McGuinness opened with an engaging look at Worcester’s history, sharing unexpected innovations tied to the city, including the smiley face, birth control advancements, and Near East rice pilaf—setting the stage for Worcester’s legacy as a center of ingenuity.
Brien provided context on the WBDC, founded in 1965 by civic-minded leaders working with City officials to address economic challenges by expanding the tax base and supporting business growth. She also highlighted the history of the GreenTech Park site, formerly a large Saint-Gobain industrial site, and discussed its transformation into an 800,000-square-foot, multi-phase development – the largest in WBDC’s history. The project has required careful environmental remediation and demolition with the ultimate goal of pad-ready sites for a modern industrial campus – continuing the legacy of the site and of Worcester’s economic influence.
The program offered valuable perspective on Worcester’s continued growth and its role within the broader regional economy, while providing members an opportunity to connect with peers across the industry.
