Architecture
Interior Design
This National Register of Historic Places-listed structure was built in 1955 and originally served as a dormitory for the Cardinal Cushing Center, one of the country’s leading schools for children with developmental disabilities. The renovation and adaptive reuse of the local landmark into Bethany Apartments reimagines the structure as contemporary and attractive residences, providing the community with 37 units of much-needed affordable housing. Utilizing historic tax credits and working closely with the State of Massachusetts and the Planning Office for Urban Affairs, TAT has preserved the historic envelope of the three-story H-shaped brick building, maintaining the existing structure while creating a mix of bright and airy one, two, and three-bedroom homes within. Extensive renovation work included thermal improvement to a number of large historic windows and careful restoration of interior wainscoting and moldings; new elements include the addition of interior storm windows to enhance building envelope performance while preserving the historic exterior appearance. Taking advantage of the former school building’s impressive scale and layout, TAT designed a number of amenity spaces, the highlight of which is a fully programmed 2,000-square-foot-plus common area with 15-foot ceilings, located within a historic chapel.