View from South Street
Jamaica Plain, MA – Colantonio Inc. is currently restoring the historic Jamaica Plain Branch Library, the oldest and busiest branch of the Boston Public Library. The 1911 building, which sits on the corner of South and Sedgwick streets, had its last renovation in 1936.
The firm has removed, repaired, and reinstalled the original, single-pane windows, the massive oak front door, the exterior steel railings, and sections of the slate roofing. They have also restored the existing ceramic tile flooring.
The architect for the project is Utile Design of Boston.
2,500sf glass enclosure for front entry
Current work focuses on the glass-enclosed, 2,500sf addition that houses the new main entry, community meeting spaces, workrooms, a makerspace, and a reading terrace. The upper section and lettering of the curtainwall is made of fritted glass, which is covered with a ceramic-coated color digital print that helps control solar heat gain and glare. The addition also features polished slab flooring.
Upgrades, including new restrooms, mechanical systems, finishes, and exterior landscaping, are nearing completion. The project is scheduled to wrap up in November, nearly three months ahead of schedule.
