View of the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA. Rows of seating within a stunning event venue, wooden beams overhead, and railings crafted from woven wood create a captivating environment.

In the early hours of dark winter mornings, before the sunlight pours onto Main Street, Corderman & Company’s project team will don their work boots and hard hats, unfasten the clasps on their tool boxes, unpack and assemble their equipment, and gather to await the go-ahead from the Superintendent and Foremen on site; and then, the performance will begin.

Though undoubtedly a different experience than that of the artists, storytellers, and visionaries who grace the stage at Shalin Liu Performance Center, Corderman & Company will be taking part in their own 2-month-long show at the performance hall this upcoming winter. A chorus of buzzing drills, striking hammers, and whirring saw blades will fill the historic building, set to transform the space and uphold the utmost standards of class, elegance, and sophistication.

Rockport Music has hosted renowned musicians in their state-of-the-art concert hall, the Shalin Liu Performance Center, since opening its doors in 2010. Featured artists have included Dianne Reeves, Justin Hayward, Yo-Yo Ma, and Marc Cohn, just to name a few. The venue offers an experience like no other for musicians and audience members alike, affording world-class acoustics paired with a mesmerizing view of the ocean and North Shore coastline. The curated experience is auditory, visual, and tactile, a striking display for the senses.

Corderman & Company, a construction management firm based in Boston, was engaged to perform upgrades and renovations throughout all five floors of the space. The project team will collaborate with Hacin, an award-winning architecture studio based in Boston, with whom Corderman shares a repertoire of successful, innovative buildouts including IDEO in Cambridge, Forefront Eyecare in Boston, Spec Suites for Rockhill Management in Boston, and PJA Marketing & Advertising in Cambridge.

During the construction process, coffee breaks will replace intermissions and a dance of trade partners throughout the halls will breathe life into the space during its brief hiatus from the regularly scheduled programming. A renovated green room, where artists can relax while awaiting their performance, as well as improved patron amenities and a newly reimagined reception hall will enhance the overall hospitable and energetic atmosphere. An updated lobby will welcome and impress patrons upon their very first steps through the front door, a refined experience that will extend throughout the entirety of the building.

The particularly narrow timeframe for this scope of work will require seamless project and schedule management and extensive collaboration and communication across teams. Corderman & Company will utilize an array of tech platforms and tools, draw from notable industry experience, and adhere to the firm’s strict safety protocols to ensure an efficient and safe construction process from start to finish.

Corderman’s Senior Project Manager - Kevin Hegarty, Superintendent - John Sharpe, Director of Field Operations - Dave MacNeil, and the firm’s In-House divisions - Labor, Carpentry, and Trucking, will also provide necessary support and knowledge to navigate the job’s complexities. This project team’s work is consistently defined by attention to detail and is infused with passion and pride for the work they do. These experts in their field strive for nothing short of perfection.

When the attenuation of construction equipment finally comes, the space will be ready to host the next set of performers for the 2026 season. An enhanced experience will await the waves of audience members spilling through the front doors to witness the newest series of inspiring performances.

Corderman & Company is beyond grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the story of Rockport Music’s Shalin Liu Performance Center and support the establishment, musicians, and surrounding community. The team is excited to work alongside skilled and passionate project partners while fine tuning this incredible gem in Rockport, MA.

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