Restoring the Historic Bakery Building
Central Square, Cambridge, is rich with architectural history, parts of it still standing, like the Bakery Building at 269 Green Street. Since the building’s construction between 1891 and 1895, Central Square has developed into today’s Cultural District, home to an incredible variety of arts and cultural institutions, mom-and-pop shops, and new businesses in the life sciences.
Before – Second Floor
After – Second Floor
We restored the 110-year-old, four-story masonry building, after years of an uncertain future. In the early 20th century, the Bakery Building was part of the area’s first supermarket. It served as a bakery between 1934 to 1974, before it was incorporated into what is now known as Supreme Liquors Retail Store. Today, after our historic restoration, it provides 15,000 SF of modern office space, our new design in dialogue with details from the past, like the intricate brick detailing of existing facades.
Before – Staircase
After – Staircase
Preserving the building’s charm and historical features was a priority for us. The fabulous post and beam structure was restored and reinforced to modern standards. The exterior windows and brickwork were restored to NPS guidelines. Many of the historic features, such as an elevator counter-weight cage and brick detailing, were retained. We reimagined the streetside openings to be spacious and welcoming; beautiful new glazed openings now welcome people through a ground-floor lobby. On higher floors, our interiors team designed new bathrooms and office kitchens as well.
This adaptive reuse project shows that honoring the historical details of a building is of benefit to all: the property owner, neighborhood, and future tenant. It maintains a sense of place while also shaping a possible future use.
Before – Fourth Floor
After – Fourth Floor
Before – New Lobby Space
During – New Lobby Space
After – New Lobby Space
Before – Exterior Under Construction
After – Exterior