Project

401 Park Repositioning

Project Description

Opened in 1928, the 1M-square-foot Sears Roebuck & Co. store, warehouse, and distribution center was a retail powerhouse until Sears abandoned the building in 1988.
Now called 401 Park, the historic landmark is once again a neighborhood cornerstone, paying homage to the Fenway’s legacy while serving as a dynamic day/night destination for visitors, workers, and residents.
The mixed-use hub links Boston’s Fenway and Longwood Medical neighborhoods by activating common areas on the garage level, ground-floor lobby, and second-floor atria and lobby as well as the exterior realm.
Design solutions include creating a new social entry space, stripping interiors to reveal the building’s authentic character, creating a custom railing with Boston-centric names and places, creating a space for the 25,000-sf Time Out Market food hall, and introducing public art inside and out.

Photos: © Robert Benson and Connie Zhou

Architects created a grand atrium at 401 Park but cutting away sections of floor plate and revealing the building's industrial character

The three-level iron staircase leads from the ground-floor lobby up to the second level lobby with two office atria, or down to underground parking.

An extension of the second level lobby overlooks the constant activity in Time Out Market, as does the office space on the right-hand side.

Project

Cathedral of the Holy Cross

Project Description

Originally consecrated in 1875, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross measures 364 feet long, 90 feet wide, and 120 feet high from the finished basement floor to the ridge of the nave attic.
Renovation of the Cathedral’s sanctuary and nave created a more expansive environment that brought the congregants closer to the altar.
New floor finishes, refreshed interior finishes, new liturgical appointments and furnishings, and restored historical paint details reinvigorated the interiors.
All of the Cathedral’s restored stained glass windows were illuminated with backlighting, while discretely placed, all-LED lighting fixtures introduced more light into the interiors.
Designers integrated new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, including first-ever air conditioning for the sanctuary and nave, and fire protection systems.

Photos: © Robert Benson and George Martell

Cathedral of the Holy Cross evening exterior

Cathedral of the Holy Cross interior nave looking toward rose window

Cathedral of the Holy Cross interior sanctuary and baptismal font

Cathedral of the Holy Cross columns with discreet LED lighting

Project

Union Trust Building

“Having grown up in Pittsburgh, I have marveled at the Union Trust Building’s stunning design since childhood. Elkus Manfredi’s vision for the building enabled us to overcome the obstacles and transform it into a stunning and successful business destination, known not only for its grandeur and sense of dignity, but for its warmth, vitality and contemporary functionality. With Elkus Manfredi as a key partner, it’s beyond fulfilling to have realized the great potential of the property and to propel it into the future as a key part of the dynamic renaissance that the city is currently experiencing.”

Jon Davis

CEO, The Davis Companies

Project Description

Originally built in 1918 and filling a full city block in downtown Pittsburgh, this long-neglected Flemish Gothic masterpiece has been restored and repositioned, its interiors transformed from a drab pass-through into a vibrant work/play destination.
The extensive modernization program incorporates new energy-efficient HVAC and electrical systems, 12 upgraded elevators, below-grade parking for 190 cars, and renovation of the four tenant entries.
Highlights include repairs to the sandstone façades, terra-cotta-tiled mansard roof, and interior marble floors and walls; restoration of the 40-foot-diameter Tiffany glass dome; and the addition of spectacular custom-designed hand-tufted carpeting throughout the public spaces.

Photographer: Andrew Bordwin (interiors), Robert Benson (exteriors)

Read Project Description

“Union Trust was so much more than an historic restoration of this unique example of Flemish Gothic architecture; the sustainability aspect of this project was of equal importance. The fact that we could reposition a building of this era to successfully compete with new construction in today’s market was immensely gratifying.”

Ross Cameron RIBA

Vice President, Architectural Designer, Elkus Manfredi Architects

“Working in historic buildings always has its challenges, but sometimes you find treasures. Where someone may see a dusty mechanical space, unusable with trusses running through the middle, we see a dynamic fitness center, filled with character showcasing the heritage of the ‘Steel City.’”

CT Nguyen

Interior Designer, Elkus Manfredi Architects