The recently completed preservation of The First Church of Christ, Scientist has spanned over eight phases in the course of eight years. The Mother Church sits at the center of the Christian Science Center complex, a 13.5-acre plaza that is the largest privately owned, publicly accessible open space in the City of Boston. The primary goal of the project was the long-term preservation of The Mother Church, addressing ongoing, systemic leaks at the building’s dome, semi-domes, roofs, balustrades, and facades and the restoration of the historic building’s appearance both inside and out, while limiting future capital maintenance. Priorities at the interiors included the introduction of modern electrical and life safety systems, the integration of accessibility and the remediation of the Church’s original historic finishes. The Church selected Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) as building envelope and structural engineer for the restoration of the building exterior, while Finegold Alexander Architects served as the architect for the building interior restoration work. Shawmut Design and Construction served as the construction manager, tasked with implementing the preservation work to restore the building to its original vision while leaving behind no trace of the invasive work that was completed. This multi-phased restoration project added 100+ years to the building’s life and incorporated innovative solutions to preserve its original appearance.

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(Photo credits: building exterior photos by Raj Das Photography; interior photos of The Mother Church Extension auditorium by Raj Das Photography; interior photos of The Mother Church Original auditorium by Robert Benson Photography)