NEWTON ARCHITECTURE FIRM PLAYS TO ITS STRENGTHS WITH UNIQUE COMBINATION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND FOODSERVICE PROJECTS
Massachusetts Governor Appoints Principal Donald Lang to State Architectural Access Board

West Newton, Massachusetts(March 16, 2005) New England is stuck in a deep freeze, but the four-man team at Donald Lang Architects is hot, with rain-forest-like growth reported this quarter. The firm’s two major strengths — historic preservation and foodservice -- are brought into play, and in some cases, the specialties overlap.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

1) Andres Branger, owner of a 1912 brick storefront at the corner of Shawmut Avenue and West Concord Street in Boston’s historic South End, commissioned Donald Lang Architects (DLA) to "restore and preserve the best of the building’s early 20th century style" while creating a casual, Venezuelan cuisine restaurant to be called ORINOCO. Rustic interior design will feature authentic earthenware, religious icons and a floor painting of the eponymous river. A late spring opening is planned.

2) A local developer tapped DLA to transform SAND STORM STABLES, a circa 1800 farmhouse and horse barn situated in the historic district of Weston, MA into a $1M single family dwelling. The Weston Historic Commission gave its approval for construction, and the finished home will likely be on the market by summer.

3) DLA recently completed a $1M envelope rehabilitation of the oldest cooperative housing complex in Boston, the 270-unit JAMAICAWAY TOWERS. Constructed in 1966 "in the European-modern style of that era," the Trustees of the complex hired DLA to design new exterior lighting, on-street signage, windows, doors and roofs. Granite facade panels were added to each townhouse for a more upscale look.

4) The sole remaining tract of farmland in Newton, MA, located at the intersection of Winchester and Nahanton Streets and worth approximately $3.5M, has been saved by the Community Preservation Act. With help from DLA, existing buildings at ANGINO FARM will be preserved, and community farming may begin this year, under a CSA model.

5) A circa 1860 French mansard home in Newtonville, MA is receiving a property upgrade by DLA, and an older single family home on Beecher Terrace in Chestnut Hill has added a second dwelling, thanks to a historically sensitive design submitted by DLA.

FOOD SERVICE

1) A modern Indian restaurant called TAMARIND BAY opened recently in the Harvard Square space that housed Casa Mexico for three decades. DLA designed and supervised a new entry, furnishings, signage, and lighting for a modest budget of $200,000.

2) A 115-seat walk-up service delicatessen called THE RESTAURANT is coming to Woburn’s central business district. A multi-station food counter will offer a variety of sandwiches in the $5-7 range, plus fish and seafood dishes, beef and pork roasts, salads, vegetarian entrees and more. The 4,000 square foot space is undergoing a $800,000 refurbishment based on a design by DLA.

3) MOREY’S TAVERN in downtown Maynard, MA is undergoing a major renovation this winter, spearheaded by DLA. A more upscale atmosphere is the goal.

4) TWO AS YET UN-NAMED PIZZERIAS are currently on the docket at DLA. The former Midnight Pizza on Route 16 in Newtonville will be taken over and refurbished by the property’s previous owners, resulting in a casual, family restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The second property, located in Boston’s ever-expanding South End, is currently in the permitting stage.

File Under: All Access All The Time

As a result of DLA’s interest of community service, and record of creating successful access solutions for property owners throughout greater Boston, Donald Lang was appointed to serve on the Massachusetts’ Architectural Access Board by Governor Mitt Romney. Lang was sworn in to the nine-member panel last week and began attending hearings to enforce and administer state access regulations immediately.

File Under: Everything’s Coming Up Roses

Donald Lang provided architectural expertise for a New England Spring Flower Show exhibit that was sponsored by New England Lifestyles. The exhibit won a total of four awards at the show, including the prestigious Trustees Emeriti Award.

"Collaborating with a team of talented landscapers, lighting and fabric specialists and horticulturists on this project was great fun," said Lang, "and the chance for my work to be seen by 150,000 people was an unbeatable opportunity."

Press Contact: Chris Lyons Communications 508-877-4154/lyonspr@rcn.com

Top of page