Boston. MA – Tishman Construction Corporation of Massachusetts (TCC-MA) recently completed the renovation and restoration of the historic Ames Building, transforming it into the luxurious Ames, a 114-room boutique hotel
incorporating high design and operated by Morgans Hotel Group.
The building is located at One Court Street, just off Washington Mall in the heart of downtown Boston’s Financial District, near Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market.
Constructed in 1889, the 14-story Ames Building was Boston’s first skyscraper. The masonry load-bearing building is the second-tallest masonry building in the country.
It was designed by Shepley Rutan & Coolidge in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, so named for famed architect H.H. Richardson, who gave his buildings fanciful details and a distinctive roofline overhang.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
After a succession of owners, the unique building was purchased by Normandy Real Estate Partners and Morgans Hotel Group, redesigned by the Rockwell Group in collaboration with the in-house design team, and thoroughly repaired, renovated and upgraded by
Tishman Construction.
To preserve this building and transform it into a premier, contemporary hotel, Tishman met a series of challenges.
These challenges consisted of preserving and restoring historical aspects of the interiors, including ornate period details, façade restoration, structural and mechanical upgrades, and in collaboration with the architects on the project meeting the client’s accelerated timetable. “Teamwork and creative collaboration were the keys to completing this fast-paced project, in which we preserved the integrity of the building while creating gracious hospitality space,” said Tom Erickson, Senior Vice President of TCC-MA. “We’re very pleased with the result of the efforts of the entire team and are proud to have renovated and restored this important historic building.”
