Boston University’s New Alumni Center at The Castle
Iconic mansion undergoes historic restoration for new life as Alumni Center
by Rebecca Berry
Colleges and universities with heritage campuses face accessibility, infrastructure, and use pattern challenges in older buildings. Although they are solidly constructed, these buildings require significant rehab to render them functional, and administrators and facilities managers struggle with how best to leverage them. The Boston University (BU) Castle is one such icon that is now seeing a new — and vibrant — life. The 15,371sf project preserves a beloved campus icon while creating contemporary uses and a home away from home for its alumni. It also creates flexible meeting space and refreshes the BU Pub. Construction will be complete in the fall of 2018.
The Castle was originally constructed in 1915, for William Lindsey, a prominent Boston industrialist. In 1926, Oakes Ames, along with University Trustees Dr. and Mrs. William E. Chenery, purchased the mansion and then later donated it to BU in 1939. Until 1967, it was home to BU’s presidents. Since then, the Castle was used for university lectures, gatherings, and private events, with the beloved BU Pub in its basement level; however, accessibility, maintenance, and little space to accommodate modern MEP systems were mounting challenges to viability.
Today the Castle is moving into the 21st century as a new Alumni Center, putting alumni literally and figuratively at the heart of the Charles River campus. In this spirit, the Castle will continue to be an iconic, high-profile location for numerous alumni, faculty, and student events. Located directly adjacent to the Leventhal Center, a gateway for university admissions, the Castle will be showcased to incoming students while providing a base for alumni. The project includes an expansion at the lower level including a new 1,000sf commercial kitchen providing for an expanded pub menu, faculty dining at the first level (via lift) and onsite catering. The physical connection between the new Alumni Center and the Leventhal Center will provide full accessibility to the building’s public spaces.
Following are five things our team did enabling BU to make the most of this iconic building for its next 100 years:
- Infrastructure. New utility services were installed, and the masonry exterior, original windows, and slate roof restored.
- MEP systems. For the first time, the building will receive a comprehensive HVAC system. The VRF system was selected both for high efficiency and the ability to integrate it with the elaborate historic interiors.
- Access. A multistop elevator was installed at the Leventhal Center in anticipation of a future connection to the Castle. The pub expansion includes an excavation to facilitate a single accessible space.
- Design. Look beyond the basic program requirements. Our team worked with BU to create a rooftop terrace on the addition, thereby increasing the amount of available event space at the first floor — for the minimal cost of the roof pavers!
- Vision. Go bold. Heritage buildings have an inherent value in the memory of an institution that cannot be denied. Understand that the chance to renew them may come once in a lifetime. BU moved to take the Castle into its next 100 years, and in so doing, preserves its legacy.
Here are a few leading questions colleges and university planners can ask to assess older buildings for relevant uses:
- Are there unfilled needs on campus that do not fit neatly into an academic department “bucket”? What about gathering spaces, maker spaces, informal social areas? These types of spaces can often find a home in an atypical structure.
- Is there an adjacent or nearby program desire that could be augmented if the building were renovated? “Gee, we really just wish we had some more space for our engineering majors to collaborate, or for our languages department to hold speaking competitions. Does it have to be in the buildings where they are now?”
- Does the building have a history, does it have “good bones”? Is it solidly built? Is it beautiful? Does it have meaning to our campus community?
The BU Castle is just one example of the unique ways in which universities are elevating their identity and brand by repurposing historic buildings into useful and vibrant centers. They enable and extend the life of these unique architectural jewels, and at BU they are demonstrating their commitment to honoring the past while looking to the future.
Rebecca Berry
Rebecca Berry, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is a principal at Finegold Alexander Architects.
Other team members include:
Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti
MEP/FP engineer: WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff
Civil engineer: Nitsch Engineering
Lighting design: Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting
Masonry restoration: Building Conservation Associates
