Our firm provided construction inspection and material testing services for the Villa Maria by the Sea Catholic Retreat House, a newly constructed three-story facility on 4.5 acres in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. The project, which broke ground in September 2021 and was completed in May 2023, replaced the original retreat house that had served the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary since 1937. The previous structure was deemed too large and costly to maintain, leading to the development of a smaller, energy-efficient, and fully handicap-accessible retreat center designed to better serve the community’s needs.

The new 41,000-square-foot facility is a two-story, wood- and steel-framed structure supported by pile foundations, ensuring stability and resilience in the coastal environment. Designed to foster a welcoming and contemplative atmosphere, the retreat house features a chapel, meeting and dining spaces, a full-service commercial kitchen, and 54 new guest rooms. Additionally, the site includes a year-round convent and on-site parking, allowing the Sisters to continue their mission in a modernized and thoughtfully designed space.

Throughout construction, our team played a critical role in ensuring structural integrity and quality control by providing earthwork (soil) inspections, concrete reinforcement evaluations, and concrete placement testing. Our expertise helped ensure the retreat house met high construction standards while maintaining the durability required for a beachfront environment. The completion of Villa Maria by the Sea marks a new chapter for the Sisters, preserving their mission while enhancing the retreat experience for future generations.