How The Beck is Rewriting Haverhill’s Riverfront

Would you believe a forgotten factory lot could become Haverhill’s most desirable address?

For years, an abandoned industrial parcel sat idle on the Merrimack River, directly across from the Bradford MBTA station. To most, it was a liability. To The Procopio Companies, alongside CUBE 3, Dellbrook | JKS, and H+O Structural Engineering, it was an opportunity to create something transformative.

Today, that vision stands complete as The Beck—a 359,000-square-foot, six-story mixed-use development with 290 new homes, retail space, and civic improvements that extend far beyond its walls.

But the true value of The Beck isn’t in its unit count. It lies in the blueprint it offers for how overlooked land can be repositioned into thriving, connected communities.

Beyond “Transit-Oriented”

It’s easy to say a site is “transit-oriented” when it sits beside a commuter station. But Procopio knew adjacency wasn’t enough. To capture demand, they designed an environment where transit was just one piece of a larger lifestyle.

From a rideshare lounge and wellness amenities to active ground-floor retail, every decision made The Beck not just near transit, but about community. The result? A place people want to live, not just a place they can catch a train.

At H+O Structural Engineering, we helped translate the design vision into a buildable reality. By aligning structural systems with cost and constructibility considerations, we made sure the podium design could be executed efficiently while supporting parking, elevated courtyards, and retail without compromising the architectural intent.

Designing Density That Works for People

CUBE 3’s challenge was to fit nearly 300 homes on a compact riverfront parcel without overwhelming the neighborhood. The solution: treat density as a design opportunity rather than a constraint.

Facades were articulated with texture and glazing, podium parking was hidden to protect the pedestrian realm, and pathways connected residents to the river and the station. Instead of creating a wall of apartments, CUBE 3 crafted a building that feels porous, light, and connected.

The Civic Multiplier

Perhaps the most strategic decision was the investment in public space. The Beck didn’t stop at private amenities; it extended its impact with riverwalk connections, park upgrades, and amphitheater improvements.

These moves weren’t just civic gestures—they multiplied the project’s value by making the riverfront more vibrant for everyone.

Why This Project Matters

The Beck is more than a new apartment building in Haverhill. It’s proof that:

• Transit adjacency must be paired with placemaking to unlock demand.
• Public investments strengthen both community support and long-term value.
• Structural engineering, when integrated early, enables design ambition and cost control to coexist.
• High walkability enhances quality of life and boosts the local economy, with residents gaining easy access to downtown Haverhill’s shops, restaurants, and services.

In other words: The Beck isn’t just a building. It’s a beacon for how overlooked parcels can redefine entire neighborhoods—and a model for how developer, architect, builder, and structural engineer partnerships create lasting impact.

Looking Ahead

The ribbon has been cut, but the bigger story is still unfolding. As residents move in and retail activates, The Beck’s influence on Haverhill’s riverfront will only grow—setting the stage for what could be the city’s next chapter of revitalization.

At H+O Structural Engineering, we partner early with developers and architects to align structural systems with cost reality—so design intent holds through delivery.

If you’re already designing a large‑scale multifamily or mixed‑use project, schedule a quick, no‑risk peer review of your current scheme; we’ll quantify potential savings, surface structural risks, and outline a path to a faster, more predictable build.