Honorable Mention, Adaptive Reuse, Low-rise
The transformation of an 1890 steam pump manufactory in the East Kendall Square neighborhood of Cambridge, Mass., was spurred by rapid neighborhood changes brought on by the bio-tech boom and the related influx of high-rise office, lab and campus buildings that have dramatically changed the architectural vernacular in this former working-class area of the city. Residents and city officials were eager to preserve a pocket of the neighborhood for public use within a building that represents the area’s history.
Residents and city officials were eager to preserve a pocket of the neighborhood for public use within a building that represents the area’s history. 
A new addition clearly stands out from the original brick with corrugated, brass-colored cladding that speaks to the metalsmithing that once took place within the building. 
The transformation of an 1890 steam pump manufactory in the East Kendall Square neighborhood of Cambridge, Mass., was spurred by rapid neighborhood changes brought on by the bio-tech boom and the related influx of high-rise office, lab and campus buildings. 
The renovation harnessed the architectural history of the building’s masonry shell and original fenestration. 
The triple-height atrium, unsympathetically modified with infill floors in the 1980s, was restored to its original volume, which provides visual and physical connection among the workshops. 
HISTORIC PHOTO: courtesy CambridgeSeven
Vacant for almost 20 years, Foundry 101 is now a vibrant community hub with makerspaces, art and dance studios, food labs, performance space, a central community hall, and a mix of non-profit and market-rate office tenants.
The planning and design of this civic hub, intended to inspire and serve residents of all ages and abilities, grew from a broadly inclusive process of city leaders, a Foundry Consortium of local university and arts partners, and a local Foundry Advisory Committee of residents and field experts, as well as collaboration with the Cambridge Historical Commission.
The renovation harnessed the architectural history of the building’s masonry shell and original fenestration. The triple-height atrium, unsympathetically modified with infill floors in the 1980s, was restored to its original volume, which provides visual and physical connection among the workshops. Flanking the atrium, three new concrete-on-steel deck floors were inserted on steel framing that is structurally separated from the original granite and heavy-timber structure. A new addition clearly stands out from the original brick with corrugated, brass-colored cladding that speaks to the metalsmithing that once took place within the building.
To read a feature about Foundry 101, see retrofit’s September-October issue.
PHOTOS: Anton Grassl unless otherwise noted
— James Graham, AIA, Graham Baba Architects, Metamorphosis Awards judge
“Brilliant project—from program to execution.“
Retrofit Team
METAMORPHOSIS AWARD WINNER, ARCHITECT, INTERIOR DESIGNER
AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LEAD: CambridgeSeven
Materials
ACOUSTIC FLOOR ISOLATION AND NOISE CONTROL: Kinetics Noise Control
WINDOWS: Slimline from Reynaers
VRF SYSTEM: Daikin
ACOUSTIC PANELS: Unika Vaev
RAILINGPANELSYSTEM: FOLD from VIVA Railings
FURNACE: Carrier
PAINT: BenjaminMoore
