SGH Receives ACEC of Massachusetts Award for First Church of Christ, Scientist, Historic Preservation; Contributes to Other Winners

SGH has been involved with projects at the historic TFCCS site for decades, and in collaboration with Finegold Alexander Architects and Shawmut Construction, recently completed a seven-year restoration project to repair and extend the service life of The Mother Church while preserving its historic integrity. The thirteen-acre site in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood is home to The Mother Church Original and The Mother Church Extension. SGH served as the prime engineering consultant for the restoration, which included providing a custom terra cotta rainscreen hung from tensioned cables, replacing the terra cotta cupola that tops the structure, and rehabilitating the facades and roofs. The carefully considered restoration received approval from the Boston Landmarks Commission as the site is a designated Boston Landmark.

“The Mother Church is an iconic landmark for local Bostonians and international visitors, and we are thrilled to have had the opportunity to help preserve this building for the next 100 years,” said SGH Associate Principal Casey Williams, who served as project manager for the preservation. “Thank you to ACEC/MA for recognizing the contributions of this tremendous project team.”

SGH also contributed to three additional projects honored by ACEC/MA:

• Gillette Stadium North End Zone Improvements (Silver Award; Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.)
• 180 CityPoint (Bronze Award; Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.)
• Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (Bronze Award; Greenman-Pedersen, Inc.)

See the full list of awards.