BOXBOROUGH, MA–A ground breaking ceremony was held Monday to commemorate the start of renovations to the United Church of Christ, Boxborough (UCCB)’s historic Meeting House.
Originally a one-story structure, the Meeting House portion of the Church’s facility was built in 1833. According to the UCCB, the original post and beam structure was raised in 1880 to expand the building.
As with many historical buildings, time has left the building in want of renovations. This need, coupled with a desire for increased accessibility and usable space for the church, led the UCCB to begin planning renovations in 2017.
“Working with Green Leaf Construction and Maugel Architects, we feel we are honoring the heritage of the 1833 building while bringing it into the twenty-first century,” says Larry Wellington, member and volunteer at the UCCB.
Work will include much-needed foundation repairs to bring the building up to code, along with renovations that will make the building fully ADA-compliant. In addition, both the first and second floors of the Meeting House will be remodeled to provide ample meeting space and provide a welcoming layout for congregants as well as the surrounding community.
“These renovations will make the entire building fully accessible to all and provide both formal and informal meeting spaces,” says Wellington. “There will be a large meeting space on the second floor for concerts or lectures, smaller meeting and work areas on the first floor, and a large lobby for informal conversations on the first floor.”
“This has truly been an interesting and engaging project in every stage, from design to construction,” states Green Leaf project manager Cortney Kiewel. “We’re working closely with Maugel Architects and the UCCB to preserve to the historical value of the building. At the same time, we will integrate modern features that will provide lasting structural improvements and enhance access.”
Construction is scheduled to be completed in late fall of this year.
