Over the past year, visitors to Mary Baker Eddy’s newly reopened final residence have been extremely complimentary about the tour experience as well as the quality and attention to detail of the restoration work.
Toward the end of 2024, the visiting public’s praise was reinforced by professional recognition for Longyear Museum’s 400 Beacon Street project—with an award for historic preservation from the Rhode Island chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-RI).
The implementing firm for the second and final phase of restoration work—DBVW Architects, based in Providence, Rhode Island—submitted the project for consideration for AIA-RI’s annual awards. Since 400 Beacon Street was such a “comprehensive restoration of an extremely important historic property, we thought it would be an excellent candidate,” says Martha Werenfels, DBVW’s senior principal on the project and a specialist in historic preservation.
DBVW’s award submission noted that the restoration balances the priorities of historic preservation with state-of-the-art technology and safety systems, resulting in a “faithfully restored property that serves to educate the neighboring community and greater public about the life of a truly pioneering woman.” In addition to preserving nearly all of the salvageable historic materials on site, reclaimed material from off site (such as wood from demolished mill buildings) was extensively used to build the all-new exhibit space in the basement and rebuild floors and stairs in the carriage house.
AIA-RI presented nine design awards in 2024 across categories including interior, commercial, and residential architecture—and 400 Beacon Street was the only project to receive a citation in the historic preservation category. “This recognition is not just for DBVW,” Ms. Werenfels says. “It is for the entire team of owner, contractors, architect, and many consultants.” She reports that the jury was impressed with the in-depth research into the form and functions of the buildings and property during Mrs. Eddy’s three years there (January 1908 to December 1910), commenting, “It is always rewarding when architectural design juries recognize the research, understanding of technology, and design considerations that go into a restoration project.”
Much of the research informing the reconstruction and rebuilding was conducted by Longyear’s Historic House and Collections team members in conjunction with Wolf Architects, Inc. (the firm that worked with Longyear on the restoration of the Mary Baker Eddy Historic House in Lynn, Massachusetts). The team pored over hundreds of historic photographs and other archival material in Longyear’s collection, as well as undertaking broader internet-based and library research.
“It was a very meaningful project for those us involved in it,” says Longyear Executive Director Sandy Houston, “and it’s a wonderful honor to receive professional recognition for the team’s work.”
Ms. Werenfels concurs. “This team effort was one I will not forget and one for which I am very grateful,” she says. “I believe the results demonstrate what can happen when a large team works together towards a very worthy goal.”
Note: DBVW also won the “People’s Choice” award for its work on a new branch location for Bank RI in Newport, RI.