PROVIDENCE – Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects last week was given a National Preservation Honor Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The firm was part of a team of designers that worked on the redevelopment of Washington Mills Building No. 1 in Lawrence, Mass.
“This is a true honor for an architect and his team” Michael Viveiros said. “When the National Trust for Historic Preservation selects your mill-rehabilitation project from dozens of other mill rehabilitations … around the country for its ‘quality’ and ‘impact,’ it is very satisfying. It proves that the extra attention to design detail and the perseverance to have these elements executed correctly really does add tangible value to a project and a community.”
The mill, built in 1886, was part of a 17-month, $40 million redevelopment. It’s a 240,000-square-foot building which now houses 155 residential units. The lofts have 14-foot ceilings, nine-foot arched windows and exposed brick walls.
“In a region dotted with historic mills, Washington Mills stands out – not only for the quality of its recent renovation but also for the impact of its rebirth on the town of Lawrence,” National Trust for Historic Preservation President Richard Moe said. “This project has demonstrated in remarkable fashion how historic preservation can be a real catalyst for downtown revitalization.”
The award was presented at the trust’s 2008 National Preservation Conference in Tulsa, Okla.
Founded in 1994, Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects, is a 28-employee firm located in Providence. It specializes in “smart growth” and sustainable design. For more information, www.durkeebrown.com.
