The Boston Athenaeum

The Boston Athenaeum is a unique institution in many ways, beginning with its quirky address, No. 10½ Beacon.  The Athenaeum is a private library for the use of members and qualified scholars.  Founded in 1807, the Athenaeum is the source of much of cultural Boston; both the Boston Public Library and the Museum of Fine Arts began as spin-offs from its collections.

The building, designed by Edward Clark Cabot, opened in 1849.  Its classically proportioned façade of gray sandstone faces north, receiving little light.  Once inside, however, the building explodes into a stunning series of rooms with dramatic vaults and colonnades, many of them brilliantly sunlit as they look out over the Granary Burial Ground at the Athenaeum’s rear.  Sixty-five years after opening, the building was altered and enlarged.  Today, it has again been renovated to replace all systems – plumbing, heating, electrical, elevators, sprinklers and windows.  New spaces for lecture programs and exhibitions were also added.

Heery International was retained during the construction phase of this challenging renovation project to assist the Athenaeum in bringing the project schedule and budget under control.  Heery became an extension of the Athenaeum staff, meeting with stakeholders and coordinating between the users and the construction contractors.  Heery helped develop the plan required to finish the project and schedule the staff’s move back into their renovated, 150-year-old home.