The transformation of Symphony Garage into Symphony Court was a powerful example of adaptive reuse in Boston’s Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood. The original brick-and-stone building was built in the early 1900s as an elevator-serviced parking garage for patrons of nearby Symphony Hall.
As a significant building in the neighborhood, it was imperative for the developer and the design team to respect the history of the original façade, while also adapting it to its new use as a condominium complex.
Although the window structure was reorganized, through careful design consideration and materials selection, the changes are hardly noticeable. 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.
Inside, the building was completely demolished, reduced to concrete slabs and flared-top concrete columns. Those flared columns feature prominently in the new design, proudly displaying and integrating the history of the structure with its new purpose. Because of the building’s previous use, floor-to-ceiling heights are generous and windows are large, allowing natural light to dive deep into the units.
Reusing old buildings is an inherently sustainable method of development. SMMA, Catamount Management (the client), and Berkeley Building Company (the general contractor) made the extra effort to ensure that the building achieved LEED Gold certification, confirming that the best choices were made throughout the design and construction for a lasting, healthy, green building.