1997 National Honor Award Winner for Restoration and Renovation
American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Since its construction in 1870, Memorial Hall has been a landmark at Harvard University. Memorial Hall has now been transformed into the new Freshman Union, bringing a building once of limited use into a central role for the entire University. Our collaboration with Venturi, Scott Brown incorporated the best that each firm had to offer.

Bruner/Cott, working with Birchfield Food Systems as planning and equipment consultant, was responsible for the 15,000 square foot food service operation of the project, including the kitchens, serveries and Loker Student Commons. Our scope of work included full architectural and engineering services for more than one-third of the $18 Million budget.

Our experience with accessibility-related design issues in historic structures served Harvard University’s desire for complete accessibility that, in many instances, was in direct conflict with the historic nature of the building and the programmatic intent of the renovation. We collaborated with Harvard’s planning and accessibility staff to guide this design process toward an approvable solution. Our accessibility work on Memorial Hall culminated in the granting of all the necessary variances concerning more than twenty separate locations. Memorial Hall opened in 1995, and rapidly became central to the University for its value as a landmark, student commons, and community cultural center.