Cambridge City Hall was built as a gift to the city. 135 years later, its recent façade renovation is a gift to its residents. In the late 1880s, Mayor William E. Russell asked wealthy residents for donations to build a public library. California businessman and philanthropist Frederick Hastings Rindge – who was born in Cambridge and attended Harvard University – answered the call with land and funding for not only the library, but a technical school, a proposed high school that was ultimately never built, and a new city hall building.

Originally completed in 1890, and designed by architects Longfellow, Alden & Harlow, Cambridge City Hall’s exterior aesthetic stands the same as it did when the building was first erected. A standard of Richardsonian Romanesque style, the building sits at the center of the city’s City Hall Historic District, which is included in the Central Square Historic District, both are included on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cambridge City Hall houses various administrative offices and departments, including the mayor’s office and City Council chambers, and it’s housed these departments since its opening.

In a 2-year project including 13 months of construction, Finegold Alexander Architects, in collaboration with Simpson, Gumpertz and Heger and ARUP, were tasked with the revitalization of the historic building’s façade, addressing the stone masonry, wood window frames, the clock tower, flagpole, and gilding of the historic text above the entryway. The 2022-2024 restoration is a testament to the importance of preserving a building as-is. With a plaque recognizing the original architects and designers of City Hall on the lawn, this project allows its visitors to see their names and know that what they made has lasted through time.

Cambridge City Hall was first constructed with a light Milford granite with a darker Longmeadow sandstone as the trim. As it has gone through restorations throughout the years, similar stones were sourced to stay true to the original. The clock tower was last restored 20 years ago. Since then, the gilding on the numbers and hands had worn off and the machinery needed minor restorations. The hands and numbers were removed to repaint the clock on all four sides of the tower so it can continue to be hand-wound every week. The wooden flagpole was replaced with an aluminum pole and painted white for durability and longevity.

The City Hall building shows a commitment to preservation through this project because of how meticulous our restoration had to be. Working with the Cambridge Historical Commission, every team was adamant about keeping the exterior design as close to the original as possible, while also ensuring its longevity for decades to come. From the colors of the stone to the shade of gold gilding, careful considerations were taken to keep the original charm of the façade.

The preservation and restoration of Cambridge City Hall is both meticulous and committed to quality. Working with the Cambridge Historical Commission, every team was adamant about keeping the exterior design as close to the original as possible, while also ensuring its longevity for decades to come. From the colors of the stone to the shade of gold gilding, careful considerations were taken to keep the original charm of the façade. The restoration ensures that Cambridge City Hall will remain a testament to the power of community, history, and the enduring spirit of civic engagement.