IIBEC Honors Atrium on Commonwealth

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) provided building enclosure and structural engineering services for the project. SGH Principal Christopher Grey accepted the award on behalf of the project team.

“Projects like this highlight the value of taking a strategic, long-term approach to existing buildings,” said Chris. “By understanding the structure and its history, we were able to help the owner modernize the property in a way that will serve them well for years to come.”

Located at 1079 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, the four-story concrete building was originally constructed in the early 20^th century for the Packard Motor Car Company and later converted into apartments, serving as an early example of adaptive reuse in the city. SGH’s involvement began in 2019 with an initial condition assessment and make-safe work. This evolved into parking garage and roof replacement projects, followed by a $100 million multiyear phased effort that included roof replacement, garage repairs, and facade recladding, coordinated with a full interior gut renovation. The project was a major success, transforming, renovating, and upgrading the approximately 300,000 sq ft building.

SGH collaborated with Margulies Perruzzi (design architect), The Hamilton Company (owner and interior architect), and Hamilton Construction Management.

In addition to the award recognition, several SGH team members participated in the convention, contributing to technical sessions and engaging with the building enclosure community.

Learn more about the other award-winning projects.