Boston Athenaeum celebrates Paul & Niki Tsongas and People’s Preservation Choice Awards

Jaco Conry of Boston Magazine covers the rich history and recent changes of the city’s cultural gem, the Boston Athenaeum.

Director Leah Rosovsky says of the 23,200 SF renovation and expansion, “The critical focus was meeting our members’ needs. It was clear that they wanted more casual spaces, more places to converge. We were also interested in presenting ourselves as a more open and welcoming institution.”

Read more about our transformation to support the Athenaeum in broadening its programming, engaging more of Boston’s diverse population, and increasing transparency about its history in Boston Magazine’s 
“What the Boston Athenaeum’s $17 Million Renovation Looks Like”.

The Boston Athenæum, one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States, has reopened its doors after sixteen months of construction! The 23,200 SF renovation and expansion designed by Ann Beha Architects, now Annum Architects supports the institution in broadening its programming, engaging more of Boston’s diverse population, and increasing transparency about its history.

Read more about the Boston Athenæum’s revitalization and renewed dedication to the surrounding community in The Boston Globe’s “Boston Athenaeum, a remnant of the city’s Brahmin past, looks to engage an increasingly diverse population“.

The Boston Athenaeum has received The Tsongas Award from Preservation Massachusetts for its recent renovation and expansion! This highest honor from Preservation Massachusetts recognizes people and projects that have displayed outstanding commitment to historic preservation in the Commonwealth.

Led by Ann Beha, our work with the Boston Athenaeum preserves a National Historic Landmark within a National Register District, while supporting a renewed mission of inclusion and transparency by welcoming everyone to visit. Each space is thoughtfully reimagined to engage visitors and facilitate interaction. Events and art collections, many focusing on women artists and artists of color, are now experienced within functional and dynamic layouts. Reconsidered exhibits connect past to present, creating more transparency for the Athenaeum’s history and for the history of Boston itself.

We are thrilled to celebrate this accomplishment on June 28^th at the Massachusetts State House along with other awardees dedicated to preserving the important history and landmarks of our communities. You can read more on the Preservation Massachusetts Awards page.

Congratulations to the whole project team, including Consigli (Construction Management), Thorton Tomasetti (Structural); Allied Engineering Services (MEP/FP), Richard Burck (Landscape); Solutions Engineering (Code); Available Light (Lighting); Acentech (Acoustical); One Diversified (AV); Workplace Project Management (FF&E); Anna Farrington (Graphic Design); Kiln Brook LLC (OPM); Anton Grassl (Photography).