Restoration/Renovation

Three Universal Window Projects Earn 2023 Preservation Mass Awards

The Pierce Building

Marlborough, MA – Universal Window and Door announced it provided historic replica windows for three projects that were honored with 2023 Preservation Awards by Preservation Massachusetts. Held at the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House on Oct. 11, this year’s “Partners in Preservation” theme celebrated the individuals and organizations that have substantially contributed to historic preservation efforts statewide. Since 1988, Preservation Massachusetts has recognized the best in preservation with its annual awards program.

Universal Window supplied windows to three of the seven commercial buildings that were honored, with winners in two separate categories: The Paul & Niki Tsongas Award, which celebrates “people and projects that have displayed the highest level of commitment to historic preservation in the Commonwealth,” and the Mayor Thomas M. Menino Legacy Award, which honors “projects that are transformative, catalytic, embrace the community, create partnerships, and revitalize the best of the past to make something good for the future.”

Manomet Place

The Tsongas Award winner for Universal was Manomet Place in New Bedford, which was transformed from a 142,000sf portion of the Manomet Mill complex (built in 1907) into a 76-unit mixed-income age-restricted community by WinnCompanies. It was designed by The Architectural Team, Inc. and constructed by Keith Construction Co., Inc.

The Menino Legacy Award winners were Bancroft Lofts in Framingham and the Pierce Building in Dorchester. Bancroft Lofts was built in 1906 by the R.H. Long Shoe Company and transformed into 160 residential units and high-end amenity space by Washington Street Ventures. It was built by Dellbrook Construction and designed by Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype. The Pierce Building in Dorchester, originally constructed around 1900, was renovated into a mixed-use structure that now houses owner Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, with the incubator space for creative businesses and local entrepreneurs on the second floor and ground floor retail. It was built by Kaplan Construction and designed by Boehm Architecture.

Bancroft Lofts

“Being a part of so many projects that were recognized by Preservation Massachusetts is a tremendous source of pride for our employees as well as a testament to our growing reputation among developers and construction firms as the go-to window manufacturer for historic renovation projects,” said Jim Finn, president and CEO of Universal Window and Door.