For its ability to adapt to a changing market, along with its investments in people, equipment and technology, W.L. French Excavating Corp. is ENR New England’s Specialty Contractor of the Year. 

The North Billerica, Mass.-based firm is a second-generation, family-owned construction and excavation firm that says it values its employees’ opinions and well-being. The firm has brought in mental health professionals to speak to firm leaders to help create a culture “where it is okay not to be okay.”

W.L. French will be featured in the September print issue of ENR East, which will also include the ENR East Top Specialty Contractor rankings.

The ENR East ranking of contractors includes firms doing business in Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. Rankings are based on total regional revenue of construction services of participating companies, and also include breakouts by state revenue and various specialties and disciplines, as applicable.

The new ranking follows the 2025 consolidation of ENR regional editions into five new regions to reflect an ongoing commitment to deliver the most relevant and timely coverage to readers, in alignment with the evolving landscape of the construction industry. Regional surveys will follow these new boundaries going forward. You can read more about the regional consolidation here.

The Specialty Contractor of the Year demonstrates success in the region from a growth and revenue standpoint as well as innovation, creativity and a commitment to giving back to its community. 

W.L. French’s investments in equipment and support equipment are critical to its operation. The firm’s large-scale internal maintenance facility operating nearly 24 hours a day ensures equipment is road-ready, project-ready, safe, reliable and ready to go. The firm is also undergoing a full-blown assessment of its technology deck to position itself for a rapidly changing world. 

The contractor prides itself on giving back to first responders, veterans and skilled tradespeople. In 2020, the firm established the French Family Foundation. From sponsoring local blood drives, to a skin cancer prevention clinic and food drives, the foundation is especially focused on assisting veterans and first responders, “ensuring they receive the recognition, resources and support they need and deserve.”

W.L. French also supports programs, school partnerships, co-op placements and career exploration events that open doors for students interested in the trades. The firm’s Trades Day brings hundreds of students together for hands-on experiences and real-world exposure to the industry and “to help build a more inclusive and sustainable workforce.”

W. L. French is a local coordinator for Wreaths Across America. In December 2024, the firm served as a stop on the national convoy route to Arlington National Cemetery.

It also received the USA Today Top Workplaces 2024 award, which is based on employee feedback. The company has also been recognized in other years, including as a Top Workplace for Appreciation and Employee Well-being in 2023. Other notable achievements include being named a Top 100 Privately Held Business by the Boston Business Journal, Top 25 Family Owned Businesses by the Boston Business Journal and recognized as a Boston Globe Top Place to Work in 2020.

Some of W.L. French’s top projects include: 

Huntington Towers – Boston 
W. L. French is serving as the site excavation and soil management subcontractor for Suffolk Construction on a highly constrained parcel in downtown Boston. The firm is executing the site construction for 252–264 Huntington Avenue, a proposed 34-story tower with underground parking, featuring residential, retail and cultural spaces adjacent to the Huntington Theatre Company. W. L. French has removed and transported more than 26,000 cu yds of soil and nearly 14,000 cu yds of slurry spoils. The firm says this project’s success is the result of strategic planning and seamless coordination between its operations and transportation teams and Suffolk Construction’s project team.

Innovation Square III – Boston 
W. L. French is the site excavation and soil management subcontractor for Related Beal Cos., constructing city-owned property directly across Northern Avenue from Related Beal’s ISQ II project. When completed, 20 and 22 Drydock Avenue will become a 319,000-sq-ft, seven-story research and development facility with on-site amenities including a café, fitness center, roof deck, conference and event space, and outdoor public seating for Vertex Pharmaceuticals. This phase of Innovation Square represents a major milestone for one of Boston’s most significant biotech developments. Excavation has reached the design bottom elevation of -10.00 ft., with isolated pits extending deeper. Pit walls have been formed and poured. Off-site utility work has included the installation of a 10-in. sewer line, followed by fire protection and domestic water service connections. Foundation wall forms are now in place and extend around the entire site.

MBTA Bus Facility – Quincy, Mass. 
W. L. French is the site excavation and soil management subcontractor for Suffolk Construction, supporting the modernization of the MBTA Bus Facility in Quincy. This 293,000-sq-ft facility will accommodate up to 120 buses and battery-electric bus charging equipment. As transportation is a leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, the contractor says it is proud to play a role in a project that supports the MBTA’s goal of electrifying 1,150 buses by 2040.

The firm’s crews have performed critical utility installations on site, including sewer, drainage and deep electrical conduit work, positioning the project for its next phase of construction.

Last year, W.L. French ranked No. 4 on the ENR New England Top Specialty Contractor survey with $200 million in revenue. To find out where W.L. French ranks on this year’s ENR East Top Contractor survey, and to learn more about the firm, check out the September issue of ENR East.