In Boston’s crowded construction market, Prominent Builders Inc. (PBI) has carved out a reputation for helping clients make the right choices in an industry that rarely stands still. The full-service construction management company, based in one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, brings more than 80 years of combined experience to every project, and has recently made strategic moves that doubled its business.
Founded in 2012 as Boston Property Contractors, the firm rebranded in 2022 to reflect a renewed commitment to its customers. The new name captures a broader vision: one that spans pre-construction and design through to implementation and closeout. PBI’s capabilities now include ground-up construction, value engineering, permitting, renovations, design-build, and comprehensive construction management.
At the helm is Taylor Harrington, who began his journey with the company in 2014 as a construction supervisor. His first major project involved reconfiguring an old school into a 25-unit multifamily building in the Quincy Center neighborhood. “At the time, there was this hole in the company that anybody could step into if they were just willing to put in the work,” Harrington recalls.
He stepped in and never looked back. Two years later, he took charge of the Chanel Building at 6 Newbury Street, which went on to sell as the most expensive condo in Boston. By 2019, Harrington had become director of operations and acquired a 25 percent stake in the business. In 2022, he took full ownership and rebranded the company as Prominent Builders Inc., steering it toward a new market focus: helping clients navigate development challenges from a developer’s perspective.
Harrington explains that many of the obstacles his clients face come long before the first shovel hits the ground. “Securing a piece of land, or an existing property, and bringing that to the city, town, or neighborhood — getting everyone comfortable with it — can be daunting,” he says. “You can spend more on entitlement than what it’s worth, and that’s what we help clients avoid.”
His approach appears to be working. Since taking ownership, PBI has doubled its annual revenue and expanded its client base. The company has also doubled in size, now employing 23 people, with its booking schedule full for several years ahead, a first in its history.
Still, Harrington reminds his team that growth cannot come at the expense of service. “You always want more than you can eat,” he says. “Because at the end of the day, you’ll always end up with either just enough, or not enough.”
He credits much of the company’s success to a strengthened senior management team, pointing to two key leaders: Vice President Frank Scalli, who brings extensive experience from Suffolk Construction and Shawmut Design and Construction, and Lead Estimator and Pre-Construction Manager Vincent Carbone, whose strong industry relationships have proven invaluable.
Harrington admits that delegating estimating duties was a tough step. “I used to do estimates myself,” he says. “Relinquishing that portfolio to someone else was hard, but as CEO you realize there are dozens of other things that are even harder. One hard thing at a time, that’s my motto.”
Operating in Boston means competing against some of the country’s most sophisticated builders. “They have all the shiny stuff, all the fancy new tech, all the marketing down to a science,” Harrington says. “Their job sites look immaculate. That’s what we’re trying to emulate.”
Yet what sets PBI apart is its flexibility. The firm underwrites its own developments and takes a long-term, strategic view of project portfolios, allowing it to balance resources creatively. “We can give a little bit on one project to offer more on another,” Harrington explains. That agility has enabled PBI to take on some of the city’s toughest jobs, including developments other firms were unable to complete, by helping clients make timely, informed decisions under financial or scheduling pressure.
The company’s “white-glove” approach emphasizes close collaboration with architects, engineers, and consultants throughout the development process. This individualized method has proven so successful that PBI has taken over half a dozen stalled projects from other contractors in the past five years. “Everyone gets their own personal treatment here,” Harrington says. “We’re not so big that we can’t be personable. That’s why clients trust us.”
“Everyone gets their own personal treatment here. We’re not so big that we can’t be personable. That’s why clients trust us.”
Recent projects highlight the firm’s expertise and growth.
At 121 Prospect Street in Somerville, PBI is building a 32-unit condominium project featuring high-performance windows, large amenity spaces, and a rooftop deck. It is one of the most energy-efficient designs the company has ever delivered and is set for completion in 2025.
At 125 Lowell Street, also in Somerville, PBI is converting a historic former nursing school into a 20-unit residential development. The seven-story concrete superstructure will receive new exterior walls of heavy-gauge steel stud, high-efficiency mechanical systems, modern floor-to-ceiling windows, and premium finishes. “It was already a beautiful building,” Harrington says, “and now it’s getting a second life.”
In Brighton, the firm is constructing a 73-unit housing complex at 105 Washington Street, located within walking distance of the MBTA’s B Line, one of Boston’s few transit corridors that stays entirely within city limits. The design was carefully developed to complement surrounding buildings and maintain the architectural rhythm of Commonwealth Avenue.
PBI is also breaking ground on two new projects: a 50-unit building on Broadway Street and a 40-unit building on Taylor Street, both in Somerville. The firm is further expanding its commitment to affordable housing, including a new development in Dorchester in partnership with the Codman Square Health Center.
To sustain this growth, Harrington insists on a steady, methodical approach. The goal is to deliver exceptional results for existing clients while maintaining the company’s manageable size and its reputation for value-driven, cost-effective construction. “The sweet spot for us is 30- to 50-unit buildings,” he says. “That’s where we can dedicate a team of three people and know every detail is properly designed and built.”
For Prominent Builders Inc., growth is not just about scaling up but about staying sharp, agile, and accountable in one of the nation’s most demanding markets. As Harrington puts it, “Nothing in construction is guaranteed. The market is always changing. But if you stay focused on service and keep doing the right thing, the work will always be there.”
