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Built in 1877, the Old Bromfield schoolhouse in Harvard, Mass., has been transformed into a modern, community-focused library. The project included the design and construction of an 11,500-sf addition that was scaled and detailed to complement the existing building, and connected to it via a new lobby. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Five years ago, the town of Harvard, Mass., which lies about 30 miles west of Boston, faced two problems. First, its iconic public schoolhouse, known as Old Bromfield, which was built in 1877, had become outdated. So, too, had its public library, which had no room to grow on its site.
Historical context is important in Harvard, which dates to 1732 and was known as the home of Mother Ann Lee’s Shaker Village (1781) and Bronson Alcott’s transcendental living experiment (1843). The school/library problem led to extensive discussions among its 5,741 residents, from which came a solution that would kill two birds with one stone: move the library to Old Bromfield and restore the building to its former glory. |
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Project Summary Harvard Public Library Harvard, Mass. Building Team Submitting firm: CBT/Childs Bertman Tseckares (architect/engineer) Structural engineer: Souza True And Partners Mechanical engineer: Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering Construction manager: CTA Construction Co. General Information Size: 19,500 sf Construction cost: $6.4 million Construction time: November 2005 to June 2007 |
Harvard Public Library Harvard, Mass.
October 06, 2008 |