Lord Jeffery Inn restored front exterior / photo Randy Smith
NCA Architects
Amherst, MA – The Lord Jeffery Inn in Amherst recently earned a 2015 Preservation Award from the Mass. Historical Commission. William Francis Galvin, secretary of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, presented the award to NCA Principal J. Michael Abbott, and NCA Project Manager Jeff Caplin at a ceremony held recently in Boston.
In 1926, Architects Putnam and Cox designed the 46,000sf Lord Jeffery Inn for Amherst College. The inn holds a unique place in literary history because it is where poet Robert Frost frequented as a guest between 1949 and 1963.
In 2009, the inn underwent an extensive restoration and expansion. NCA worked closely with the college to incorporate effective and efficient means of conserving energy, water, and other natural resources while still providing guests with modern touches that address the evolving needs of today’s traveler.
The exterior restoration included repairing, re-pointing, and lime washing the brick façade, restoring the historic windows, repairing the slate roof, and restoring the outdoor seating areas. The interior transformation entailed restoring the historic lobby, meeting rooms, function room, and 49 guest rooms. The design team also added a new ballroom, roof terrace with outdoor fireplace, fitness center, and restaurant, expanding the total square footage to 50,000. The project was completed in 2012 and cost $14.7 million.
Green design and construction features include: geothermal heating and cooling pumps, solar panels, energy recovery ventilation, energy-efficient guest room occupancy system with interactive on/off key cards, efficient lighting, and high-quality efficient plumbing fixtures.
The Lord Jeffery Inn ranks as one of Pioneer Valley’s greenest hotels, one of only two hotels in Massachusetts with LEED Silver certification, and one of three member hotels in the Historic Hotels of America Program to achieve this level of recognition.
