Pond – Net Zero Retrofit – Top Notch Contracting

Location : Somerville, MA

Project Type : Net Zero Energy – Renovation + Addition

Square Footage : ~2,500 sq ft

Architect : Traverse Architects

Completion : 2024

Performance Goal : Net Zero Energy

Client Goals

Transform a deteriorating 150-year-old duplex into a bright, efficient Net Zero home—without disrupting the tenants living below.

Challenges

Occupied first-floor apartment during full gut renovation above.
Balloon framing with brick demising wall between units.
Complex schedule, regulatory hurdles, and building department navigation.

Outcome:

Pond reimagines what’s possible in urban deep energy retrofits. A bold transformation completed under tough conditions—while tenants lived below. Net Zero was the goal. Precision was the path.

For more information and photos on Pond

What Our Client Say

Before we started our renovation project, I told our architect that I expected that we would hate our contractor by the end of the project. After all, EVERYONE hates their contractor, right? I was assured that Top Notch was different.

Needles to say, our architect was right. We just moved into our home last week, and we absolutely LOVE Top Notch and will recommend them to anyone and everyone who will listen. They are conscientious, communicative, and most of all, SO DAMN GOOD AT THEIR JOBS.

Our project manager Brian (with some great support from Jacob) was incredibly organized and planned the project meticulously. There was never a slow day on the site and anytime we visited there was a team of subcontractors coming in and out. TWO different neighbors commented to us about how quickly our project was moving forward. The subcontractors were also incredibly skilled and committed to high quality work.

Brian was also so communicative. In addition to the monthly updates on CoConstruct as well as our bi-weekly meetings, Brian was available to us any day and time that we contacted him, even when we sent a frantic message on the weekend (sorry, Brian!!).

The entire Top Notch team was also committed to helping us achieve our goal of a net zero home. Our house was built in 1890, is attached to our neighbor’s home, and to add one more hurdle, we wanted complete construction without displacing our first floor tenants who had lived there fore ~20 years. Top Notch was up to the challenge. They tackled every obstacle with creativity, diligence, and good humor. No matter what we (or the house or the city of Somerville) threw at them, they found a way forward.

Both Brian and Ohannes put quality and customer care as their top priorities. They cared deeply about the end product. They wanted us to be happy, but they also wanted to know that their work had resulted in a beautiful and high quality home. And it did! We invested a lot of our time and finances into creating the home we wanted for our family, and Brian and Ohannes more than met our expectations.

Esther S