This is a highly successful historic renovation, adaptive reuse and expansion project that gave an 1877 Queen Ann-style architectural landmark new life as a 21st century library. Architectural and ornamental details are refinished, repaired, replicated, and augmented to bring back the original quality of the building and to enhance user experience. A new 13,500 sf addition is designed to complement the original building, and houses the library’s reference section, main stacks, reading rooms, and study areas.
Special program elements, including a community room, periodical reading room, and a climate-controlled genealogy room, are located in the restored historic building. Sensitivity to the historical nature of this landmark building was given throughout all phases of design and construction. This project has received multiple awards, including the AIA New England Design Award, the Merit Award for Design Excellence from AIA, Building Design + Construction’s Annual Reconstruction and Renovation Award, and the Historical Preservation Award, Excellence in Rehabilitation, Restoration & Adaptive Reuse from the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
