Rich, W.T., Co., Inc.

Architect:

CBT Architects

Client:

City Of Quincy

Scope Of Work

W.T. Rich Company was the General Contractor on the 50,000 square foot new addition and restoration to the Thomas Crane Public Library. The new addition was a steel-framed, three-story structure, which included the creation of a large atrium space that spans the full height of the building. The renovation of the original building included upgraded building systems and extensive exterior and interior restoration work. 

Highlights

The additions façade was built using granite and masonry to aesthetically blend with the historic portions of the building

Exterior restoration of the original façade included revitalizing granite, brick, and cast stone

The interior work consisted of the delicate refinishing of the ornate architectural woodwork and decorative finishes. 

An intricate shoring system was required for the structural integrity of the building’s roof

Project Information

Location: Quincy, Massachusetts

Completion: August 2001

Contract Value: $13,000,000

Size: 75,000 SF

Type: New Addition, Historic Renovation

Owner: City Of Quincy

Designer: CBT Architects, Boston, MA

Awards & Honors: Massachusetts Historical Commission's Preservation Award

Delivery Method: Design-Bid-Build (Chapter 149)

Challenges & Solutions

The library remained operational and occupied during construction

New construction occurred alongside the historical restoration work

The project worked off of a phased and aggressive 400-day contract duration

The library established an end user group to regularly meet with our team to ensure minimal disruption to daily library operations

The work site, located in Quincy Center, had limited space and parking for the site crews

The community enforced strict construction regulations. 

Results

Shortly after the project’s completion, the library gained the distinction of receiving the Massachusetts Historical Commission's Preservation Award, the State’s top honor in this category. The project earned the award mainly for the historic restoration of the original building designed by H.H Richardson in 1882. On the library’s website, Library Director, Ann McLaughlin, is quoted as saying, “Today, three additions and more than 125 years later, the Thomas Crane Public Library’s Richardson Building is still considered one of the country’s finest examples of Romanesque architecture.”

 

Awards And Honors

Massachusetts Historical Commissions’ Preservation Award