Symphony Court

This transformation of an historic garage to a condominium in Boston’s Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood illustrates the power of adaptive reuse.

A neighborhood landmark, the original brickandstone Symphony Garage was built in the early 1900s as an elevator-serviced parking garage for patrons of nearby Symphony Hall. For a new design, the team of SMMA and developer Catamount Management sought to respect the history of the original façade while adapting it to its new residential use.

Although the window structure was reorganized, the changes are hardly noticeable thanks to careful design and materials selection. Instead, the building feels like a polished, updated version of its former self.

Residents of the added seventh-story penthouse level enjoy large, private walk-out terraces that offer breathtaking skyline views.

Demolition exposed the concrete slabs and flared-top concrete columns.

These columns feature prominently in the new design, proudly displaying and integrating the history of the structure with its new purpose. Generous floor-to-ceiling heights—another legacy of the old building—allow natural light to dive deep into the units.

Reusing old buildings is an inherently sustainable method of development. SMMA, Catamount Management, and Berkeley Building Company (the general contractor) made the extra effort to ensure that the building achieved LEED Gold certification.

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