Gawith Hall

Set atop a hill overlooking downtown Northampton, Gawith Hall is the largest of the buildings that make up the historic Clarke School for the Deaf.  The school sold most of its campus and a private company hired TDA to convert this 19th century former classroom-building-turned-dorm into a modern office building. 

The three-story masonry building had first to be stabilized and reinforced to meet current code.  The steel frame inserted into the building became a central design feature in the new entry addition, establishing an industrial theme that continues through the existing building.  Historic details, clean lines and warm wood finishes combine with exposed blackened steel and polished concrete in the open and visually engaging workspace.  The high ceilings, glass partitions and communal spaces were designed with the company’s goal in mind of attracting and maintaining talented staff in an era of high competition for skilled workers. 

TDA negotiated local, state & national reviews to help this renovation project earn Historic Preservation Tax Credits.  The completed building is one of a half dozen other buildings from the campus that TDA is has helped renovate for residential and office uses. 

236 Pleasant Street

Thomas Douglas Architects investigated the possibilities for a small lot at the edge of a busy downtown district. The program included ground floor retail and studio space, with residential units on the upper floors.

The articulated facade accentuates an adjacent bend in the road and creates a visual landmark for those traveling either direction. A combination of double hung and storefront windows are separated by a strong horizontal element, highlighting the divide between the residential and commercial uses.

Ananda Khalsa Jewelry

Ananda approached TDA to help her adapt an existing space into a new high end jewelry store. Thomas Douglas Architects helped with the retail and workshop layouts, and all finishes.

Tighe and Bond

This project began with a full gut renovation of a 1970s office building. Thomas Douglas Architects helped reconfigure the office and create a kitchen/lounge as part of the larger workspace.

Pond Building

The Pond Building on Bank Row in downtown Greenfield dates from 1890. TDA was engaged to completely renovate the building after having been left derelict for many years, including significant structural deficiencies uncovered during the design process. This project was supported by Federal and State Historic and New Market Tax Credits.

The Pond Building houses Magpie Restaurant and residential apartments. These projects were recipients of 2012 awards from the Massachusetts Historic Commission and Preservation Massachusetts. Both awards were: “to recognize and celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of those individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to preserving the Commonwealth’s historic resources.”

Allen Block

The Allen Block building on the corner of Main and Bank Row dates from 1827. TDA was engaged to completely renovate the building after having been left derelict for many years, including significant structural deficiencies uncovered during the design process. This project was supported by Federal and State Historic and New Market Tax Credits.

The Allen building at the center of downtown Greenfield now houses Greenfield Coffee, lawyer’s offices and loft style residential apartments. These projects were recipients of 2012 awards from the Massachusetts Historic Commission and Preservation Massachusetts. Both awards were “to recognize and celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of those individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to preserving the Commonwealth’s historic resources.”

Abercrombie Building

An unused former liquor warehouse building that backed up on the tracks just down the hill from Main Street, the Abercrombie Building’s front on Bank Row defined the industrial edge of town.  Over time, the spreading downtown came to encompass the property and TDA was hired to help convert the building into offices.

The owner was pursuing National Trust Historic Preservation Tax Credits for the building.  Accordingly, TDA focused on highlighting the existing wood structural timbers and brick in the interiors. 

The tenant, the District Attorney, had very specific requirements, which TDA addressed through an iterative process of research, design and review, finalizing layout plans that kept working groups together and preserved necessary adjacencies. 

Sound separating walls and ceilings were inserted into the building in the most discreet manner possible to preserve the feel of the original structure.  As a warehouse, the building had fewer windows than would be needed for professional offices, so TDA continued existing window patterns and styles, adding windows that increased the natural daylighting in the building and provided views to its occupants.  

196 Pleasant Street

Located at the entry to Northampton’s vibrant downtown is a 1870’s brick, 12,000 square foot, 4 story, former industrial building. It was constructed for the production of specialty woven fabrics like tapes, ribbons, belts and webbings. It was purchased and renovated by Thomas Douglas Architects and Yes Computers.

Douglas Architects designed the architecture, signage, lighting and all interior spaces, including the Yes Computers retail space and three upper floor office spaces. The original timber framing and floor decks were exposed and sandblasted. The interior walls are furred-out and insulated with spray foam insulation and the brick facade is painted with long lasting and environmentally green Kiem silicate natural mineral paints. Original 3” thick factory floor decking was used to construct retail tables in Yes, further reinforcing the green and sustainable image of Yes.

The facade is lit with Color Kinetics color changing LED floodlights. Douglas Architects designed the Yes building sign which is aluminum channel letters with a double row of neon tube lights. This building welcomes visitors to the expanding downtown “shop row” of Northampton.

The Dennis Group

Thomas Douglas Architects worked closely with the Engineering and Architecture firm The Dennis Group to transform the interior of their 5-story 40,000 square foot historic downtown Springfield building into modern offices. Douglas Architects helped to design and coordinate all aspects of the interior including walls, ceilings, colors, materials and flooring.

Health Communities

Health Communities sought to repurpose the a large space in a former mill, the National Felt building in Northampton, MA, to accommodate their high tech company. Thomas Douglas Architects gutted the 3,500 square foot structure and filled it with a modern technology feel while echoing the industrial fabric of the original space.

Exposed brick and wood beams define this space, and the use of local wood and stone further connect the new business to the historical relevance of the mill. The office features two custom conference rooms down to the details of the furniture and lighting. These spaces include integrated data sources, telephones, and computers. Modern materials and lighting combined with the industrial fabric of the ex-mill building create an open modern office.

Northampton Fire Station Restoration

This former fire station has been a focal point for Northampton since its construction in 1872.  When the city decided to build a new station and sell this “surplus structure”, the non-profit Media Education Foundation purchased it and the old building was given new life. Its new incarnation epitomized the revitalized image and feel of the downtown Northampton.

Towers became unique office spaces and garage bays became restaurant seating. The old firehouse overhead doors became the entrance to a new café on the ground floor and the floor above was turned into community, cultural and office space for the Media Education Foundation.  New second floor offices were opened up to the soaring space above the old ceilings. First floor components show off the former industrial materials of the fire station structure.

The patio outside and the community spaces inside are always busy and lend new life to the downtown streetscape.  The 11,000 square foot space is now more central and trafficked than ever before.

Easthampton Fire Station

Silas Kopf has been making studio furniture and fine European marquetry since 1973. He purchased this former fire station from the town of Easthampton and, with the help of Thomas Douglas Architects, he transformed an 8,000 square feet fire station from its original layout to a modern structure housing his studio shop and living spaces. This and other historic structures are integral to the old town’s identity, and this restoration enlivens the street scene without compromise.

The first floor, which used to be the fire station garage, now houses a high-end woodworking shop, an office, and a retail store. The second floor has two apartments, and the old fire tower holds a roof deck. We replaced the original fire station doors with arched windows and installed all new heating and electrical systems, including a radiant heat floor.

30 Olive

TDA worked with the owner to transform this 1920s former mill building, located just down from the center of the city, into a modern apartment building while preserving signature interior details and historic exterior features. 

The energy efficiency of the building envelope was improved immeasurably through careful airsealing and insulating, new windows, a new well-insulated roof and solar panels for both hot water and electricity generation. 

Sustainable features:

Energy Efficiency:

• Very high insulation values in walls, roof and foundation

• Air tight detailing used to prevent energy loss

• Heating and air conditioning use energy recovery

• Day lighting strategies are used to get natural lighting into the deep interior spaces.

• Photovoltaic and solar hot water arrays

Materials:

• Interior finishes were chosen for their natural durability, beauty and environmental integrity, locally sourced whenever possible.