Boston – The Boston Preservation Alliance announced its 2011 Preservation Achievement Awards that are bestowed annually to honor outstanding achievements in historic preservation and compatible new construction in Boston.
The award winners were:
Integration of Preservation and New Construction:
Atlantic Wharf – owner/developer: Boston Properties, architect: CBT Architects.
The new Atlantic Wharf is comprised of three, nineteenth century mercantile buildings.
The exterior has been completely refurbished, repairing crumbling brick and rebuilding neglected lanterns. Nelson Court, a passageway connecting the Russia and Graphic Arts Buildings, is now a glass atrium that serves as an entryway into the skyscraper.
Modern Theatre – owner/developer: Suffolk University, architect: CBT Architects
With meticulous attention to detail, the original façade was preserved. The auditorium was constructed, echoing traces of the old building. Narrow walls, neoclassical “movie palace” styling, and painted wall treatments are all reminiscent of the original theatre’s murals. The renovated building also contains 10 stories of dormitory space for 197 students.
Maintenance of an Historic Neighborhood Landmark:
Jamaica Plain Civil War Monument – owner/developer: City of Boston, conservator Daedalus, Inc.
Decades of dirt, grime, and staining were removed through the careful cleaning of the granite and marble surfaces.
Lead and mortar joints were repointed, and bronze finials were also cleaned and buffed.
Neighborhood Preservation:
90 Smith Street – Basilica Court – owner/developer: Mission Associates II, LLC/Weston Associates, Inc.. architect: Spalding Tougias Architects
Exterior work included masonry restoration, new windows, roof, doors, copper gutters and downspouts to match the historic character of the structure. Masonry piers and iron fencing around the site were also restored.
New Construction in Harmony with Boston’s Built Environment
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston – owner/developer: Museum of Fine Arts Boston, design architect: Foster + Partners, executive architect: CBT Architects.
A new addition, which houses the Art of the Americas Wing, is constructed from glass and the traditional Deer Isle granite of the original exterior. The new construction has yielded a courtyard, a special exhibitions gallery, a visitor center, over 50 new galleries, plus classrooms, offices, and a seminar room.
New Parkland Added to Boston’s Open Space:
Fan Pier Public Green – owner/developer: The Fallon Company. landscape architect: Richard Burck Associates.
The Fan Pier Public Green is an expansive lawn that sits amidst the Pier’s modern hotels, residences and office buildings. The Green connects the water to the city with lush grass, diverse flora, and an open view of the marina.
Rehabilitation by a Public Agency:
Brewer Fountain – owner/developer: city of Boston Parks and Recreation Department, architect: Carr, Lynch and Sandell.
The fountain one of the most significant pieces of public art in all of the parks in Boston. The fountain was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and became a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The restoration process involved state of the art bronze cleaning, recasting, remounting, and restoration, as well as cleaning of granite and other stone elements. The fountain’s infrastructure was also upgraded, and the supporting masonry repaired.
Rehabilitation of an Historic Industrial Space:
Boston Renaissance Charter Public High School – owner/developer: Boston Renaissance Charter Public High School, architect: HMFH Architects.
The recently completed school revitalized a 19th century masonry mill and a midcentury warehouse. Hyde Park Avenue once housed the American Tool & Manufacturing Company’s assembly line. The design of the school preserved significant elements of the historic mill building, including original Boston brick masonry, columns, and timber floors, and recycled other elements for reuse in the newly constructed wing connecting the two buildings. The new school is one of the first restoration projects in the historically significant Readville Industrial Area.
Metropolitan Waterworks Museum – owner/developer: Metropolitan Waterworks Museum, E.A. Fish; architect: Gund Partnership
The historic High Service Pumping station was restored and conserved along with its Leavitt, Worthington and Allis steam engines. The museum opened this spring and tells the story of one of the nation’s first metropolitan water systems, highlighting the role water plays in public health, engineering, architecture, and social history.
The Watermill Lofts – The Lofts at Lower Mills – owner/developer: Winn Development, architect: The Architectural Team
The final phase of the redevelopment of the 14-acre Baker Chocolate Factory complex, the Watermill Lofts, is a residential building. The three-phase rehabilitation project resulted in creating a 318-unit mixed-income neighborhood, which has contributed to the revitalization of the surrounding Lower The once deteriorating historic area has now become a lively revitalized community of families, artists, seniors, and mixed-income residents.
Rehabilitation/Restoration of a Religious Property
Tiffany Stained Glass Window Restoration at Theodore Parker Church – owner/developer: Theodore Parker Church, architect: Donham and Sweeney Associates
Fatigue cracks in soldered joints and severe bowing put the windows in danger of collapse. In order to prevent water infiltration, mortar and capstone repair was needed, along with replacement of exterior protective glazing.
Rehabilitation/Restoration Preserving Boston’s Heritage
Georges Island Visitor Center – owner/developer: Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation. architect: McGinley Kalsow & Associates.
In addition to the renovation of a mine storage building, a new shade shelter was constructed on the foundation of the former cable tank building. The landscape around both structures was designed using historically-related materials, as well as benches and interpretive signage.