The Brookline Town Barn was a 19th century utility facility and motor pool for the town of Brookline for many years until it closed in the 1990’s. Working with the Town and the Massachusetts Historical Commission, Helicon completed designs that gutted the original interior, located new stairways and elevator shaft, and located new tenant spaces for the building’s conversion to a modern medical office building. Structural repair of the building was quite extensive, as was design for exterior ADA complaint access. Most HVAC units were located on the ground, and screened by an elaborate system of iron fencing, trellis’s and landscaping. Helicon worked with the team to specify matching slate roofs, copper gutters, brick and rough stone masonry to closely blend with the means and methods of the historic building. When possible, existing materials and finishes were left exposed, including the rubble foundation, as a means of celebrating the buildings past. (Schematic Design: Mann & Lovell.)
