Boston, MA
The Lucas, 140 Shawmut Avenue
Scope/Solutions
The former German Trinity Church on Shawmut Avenue was built in 1874 and transformed into a boutique eight-story residential building containing thirty-three luxury residences with thirty basement-level parking spaces. Preservation and renovation of the exterior walls, tower, and certain windows of the church and rectory led to a design that beautifully blends historical mass masonry with a modern addition and interiors. SGH consulted on the building enclosure design for the adaptive reuse project.
SGH consulted on the design of roofs, new facades (windows, curtain walls, and cladding systems), tie-ins and modifications to existing facades, and below-grade waterproofing. Highlights of our work include the following:
- Reviewing the proposed design and providing recommendations to improve the weather resistance of systems and details
- Performing a qualitative evaluation of thermal and vapor transmission performance based on the geometry of details and placement of materials
- Helping to select building enclosure systems, considering performance, durability, constructability, and cost
- Providing construction administration services, including visiting the site to observe ongoing construction, reviewing relevant submittals, and helping the contractor address field conditions
Project Summary
Solutions
New Construction | Preservation
Services
Building Enclosures
Markets
Culture & Entertainment | Residential
Client(s)
Finegold Alexander Architects
Specialized Capabilities
Facades & Glazing | Roofing & Waterproofing
Key team members

Additional Projects
Northeast
Foundry
After obtaining the Foundry in 2009, the City of Cambridge sought community input on the best use for the property and found strong support for the arts. SGH served as the structural engineer of record and consulted on the building enclosure.
Northeast
9 Ash Street
Designed by Philip Johnson, the house at 9 Ash Street was his Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) thesis project. SGH served as the structural engineer of record and building enclosure consultant for a two-phase stabilization and renovation of this iconic modernist house.