This 1933 Art Deco federal building, designed by Cram & Ferguson, was the site of many judicial decisions on New Deal legislation. In 1972 it was renamed for the former Speaker of the House from Boston.
The goal of the Building Team—led by local design firm Goody Clancy, with Weidlinger Associates (SE), Cosentini Associates (MEP), Suffolk Construction (GC), and Tishman Construction Corp. of Massachusetts (CM/PM)—was to achieve “world-class sustainable preservation” for the client, the U.S. General Services Administration, and major tenant, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
John W. McCormack, Post Office and Courthouse, Boston, Mass.
Green Roof: Aluminum Framed Skylight, Architectural Glazing Technologies
Green Roof: Vermont Structural Slate, Vermont Slate
Green Roof: Dbr 50 Drainage Mat, Henry
Green Roof: No. 4 Filter Fabric, Henry
Green Roof: G100 Base Sheets, Henry
Green Roof: Np180 Fr Cap Sheets, Henry
Green Roof: Celotex Structodek High Density Insulation, Celotex
Non-Green Roof: Carlisle Sure Weld .060 Reinforced Tpo Roof System, Carlise
Non-Green Roof: 20 Oz. Freedom Gray Copper, Revere Copper
Interior Terrazzo: Hillyard Shine All Cleaner, Terrazzo Sealer, Hillyard
Bronze Entrance Doors: Ellison Bronze Balance Doors, Ellison
Interior Stone: Sure Klean Marble Poultice, Liquid Marble Cleaner, Gloss-N Guard Stone Polish, Prosoco
Interior Wood: Orange-Sol De-Soly It, Orange-Sol
Interior Wood: Mohawk Wax Wash Remover: Mohawk
Interior Wood: Lustersheen Wax, Lustersheen
Vestibule Foot Grilles: Safe Track, Mats Inc.
Interior Carpeting: Shaw Synthesis Iv, Carpet, Shaw Tile
Interior Carpeting: Atlas Positano Broadloom Carpet, Atlas
Interior Acoustical Ceilings: Armstrong 15/16” Prelude Glide System, Armstrong Optima Ceiling Tile System, Armstrong
Interior Aluminum Door Frames: Omega Aluminum Frames, Omega
Interior Wood Frames: Eggers Stile And Rail Doors, Eggers
Fire Rated Interior Door Glass: Firelite Plus Glass, Firelite
Interior Structural Glass: Prelco ½” Clear Satin Acid Etched, Prelco
Exterior Aluminum Window: Moduline Windows, Moduline
Exterior Window Glass: Cardinal Loe-366 Glass, Cardinal
The 701,896-sf, $160 million project took advantage of numerous green opportunities: 17,000 sf of green roofs, photovoltaics for pumping rainwater, green procurement, enhanced water efficiency, construction waste management, and improved indoor air quality. A new skylight brings light and views into the cafeteria. Marble paving was made from salvaged toilet stall partitions. All this resulted in LEED Gold certification.
Restored colors were chosen with paint analysis and clues from original drawings. “Every room was sensitively carried out, and the best features were focused on,” said Reconstruction Awards Judge Martha Bell, FAIA.
According to John Buckley, the GSA project manager, “This project has changed me. Investing in our historic buildings is something everybody should be looking very hard at.” BD+C
