Owner/Developer: Boston National Historical Park
Architect: Einhorn Yaffee Prescott, Architecture & Engineering, PC

Building five, a three-story brick building located adjacent to the current berth of the USS Constitution, was constructed between 1813 and 1815, soon after the establishment of the Charlestown Navy Yard.  It is one of the oldest and most significant buildings in this historic Boston National Park site.  The top two floors serve as barracks and offices for the US Navy crew members assigned to the Constitution.  This project consisted of the renovation and conversion of the building’s 8,500-square- foot first floor into a new visitor center that contains a National Park Service ranger station, a new theatre and presentation room, a museum store, public restrooms, and an exhibition on the history of the navy yard.

Prior to renovation and restoration the first floor was in poor condition.  Boston National Historical Park and Einhorn Yaffee Prescott preserved the original structural envelope, created handicapped accessibility and provided essential new mechanical systems.  It is a premier example of building renovation that respects the historic context while transforming it with new vitality and purpose.  The USS Constitution has always been a major stop on the Freedom Trail and this project has enhanced the value of the location for all visitors.

Photo courtesy of Bruce Martin