Del-Sano Contracting Announces Grand Opening of First Multiple Sclerosis Apartment Facility on the East Coast

UNION, NJ--(Marketwire - Oct 27, 2011) - Del-Sano Contracting Corporation, a general contracting, design/build and construction management services firm, today announced the completion of Kershaw Commons located in Freehold Township, N.J. A grand-opening ceremony is being held today for the new luxury-style affordable housing facility, which is the first apartment facility on the East Coast specifically designed and built for people with multiple sclerosis.

Kershaw Commons is a $7 million project of Regan Development based in Ardsley, N.Y. and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's New Jersey Metro Chapter. The new housing facility includes 30 rental units in a 34,000 square foot building. It has 42 parking spaces, a walking trail, a bio-retention basin, a wellness center, 15 one or two bedroom apartments on each floor, and a sunroom and terrace on the second floor. The building's exterior is brick and has architectural elements such as gables and shed dormers.

The spacious new barrier-free apartments offer countless accessibility features and activity-based community space (library, technology center, accessible garden, community rooms, and other programming space). Located next to the peaceful and wooded Applewood Estates Campus, Kershaw Commons is convenient to shopping, restaurants and entertainment, and is less than a mile from the CentraState Medical Center's MS Center, and the MS Wellness Center.

Some of the barrier-free features include: automated door openers on apartment entry doors, 42" wide doors throughout the apartments; hardwood and ceramic tile floors for ease of living; custom horizontal sliding energy-efficient windows for easy opening; accessible kitchen cabinets with roll under access, slide out shelving and Lazy Susan setup; easy access side-by-side accessible refrigerator/freezer and automatic ice makers; accessible transfer and some roll-in shower units and additional grab bars; railings in all public hallways; automatic light sensors in common areas; and automated openers for trash chutes.

"Building a facility that addresses the unique needs of individuals living with MS was a very rewarding experience," said Angelo Del Russo, CEO of Del-Sano. "Kershaw Commons not only offers state-of-the-art features for the residents, but is also perfectly located to enable easy access to the numerous community amenities."

Ken Regan, vice president of Regan Development commented on the project: "We have been so proud to work with our development team partners Del-Sano Contracting and BartonPartners on this important new housing model. As a product of the MS Society's national effort to help create housing solutions for people living with MS, Kershaw Commons is truly groundbreaking. It is the first housing complex of its type on the whole East Coast. Kershaw Commons serves as a model for what we hope will be many affordable, accessible supportive housing complexes throughout the country, helping people with MS live independent, fruitful lives."

"As we began to put together the housing project, I was so impressed with how Angelo Del Russo took the time to travel to Minnesota to personally meet people who had MS that lived in a similar project. Angelo spoke with this group about what they like the best in their housing project as well as gathering what they would change. These thoughts served as the basis from which Kershaw Commons was built," said Mike Elkow, regional executive vice president, Northeast Region of the National MS Society.

"From the design phases through the construction, Del-Sano was the consummate construction manager. Kershaw Commons is a testament to their expertise, skill and team approach to the project," said David Stembel, AIA LEED AP, senior project manager at BartonPartners, Inc. of Norristown, Pa., the architectural firm on the project.

Stembel's colleague and project architect for Kershaw Commons, Laura Beverly, CGP, added, "The teamwork that began in the pre-construction phase has led to a highly successful building and hopefully a lasting relationship between BartonPartners and Del-Sano. As the architects, we're pleased to see a final product that was built with as much precision as we put in to the sensitivity of the design."

About Del-Sano
Del-Sano Contracting Corporation is a leading provider of high quality general contracting construction; construction management and design build services. With a strong attention to detail, Del-Sano has been effectively providing its services to a wide array of clients since 1975. The company has been ranked by New York Construction magazine among the top general contractors in New Jersey. Headquartered in Union, N.J., the Del-Sano management team has built and managed projects for organizations in the healthcare, housing (i.e. affordable, special needs and aging communities), institutional, recreational, educational, corporate, and retail industries. Del-Sano is a member of the United States Green Building Council and is committed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for high performance buildings and sustainable construction. For more information on Del-Sano, visit www.delsano.com.

Photos are available upon request.