Nauset Construction is putting the final touches on the recently opened Lexington Community Center, formerly home to the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library. The renovation and conversion of the space into a community center that will serve multiple generations of town residents also included renovations to the historic Richard Tower Mansion, originally built in 1905.
Designed by Steffian Bradley Architects, the $6 million project included the construction of administrative office space; technology-enabled large and small meeting spaces for community use; multi-purpose fitness, wellness and cardio rooms; game rooms for billiards and table tennis; an expansion of the existing dining area to accommodate up to 100 people; a warming kitchen for the town's Meals on Wheels program and for functions and events; a renovated reception area, as well as The Window Pane Shop and Fix-It Shop.
"The design of the new Lexington Community Center allowed the Town to consolidate a number of multigenerational community services under a single umbrella while preserving the historically significant Richard Tower Mansion," said Lexington selectman Michelle Ciccolo, chairperson of the project's advisory board.
The buildings required an extensive reconfiguration of the interior layout, upgrades to the MEP systems, including HVAC energy recovery units and fire protection systems, as well as structural reinforcements to accommodate increased weight-bearing on the second floor. Exterior improvements to the Richard Tower Mansion included significant brick repointing, repairs to the exterior moldings and windows, as well as the addition of a handicapped accessible ramp.
"This project showcased two of Nauset Construction's real strengths - executing safe and efficient construction methods during adaptive reuse projects and an enhanced attention to detail when working with historic structures," said Nauset Construction president, Anthony Papantonis.
The Community Center is perfectly located in a centralized part of Lexington accessible by Lexpress and the MBTA.