150 Years of Design Innovation: Shepley Bulfinch Celebrates Milestone Anniversary
Shepley Bulfinch is celebrating its 150th anniversary of continuous practice, commencing with an exhibition at The Boston Architectural College’s (BAC) McCormick Gallery to celebrate the firm’s forward-thinking buildings and spaces that have inspired living, learning, and healing since 1874.
“We are thrilled to kick off our 150th year with an exhibit at the BAC’s McCormick Gallery,” says Angela Watson, FAIA, LEED AP, president and CEO, Shepley Bulfinch. “As one of the oldest architecture firms in the United States, we couldn’t be happier to return to the BAC with this custom installation to celebrate our collective history and our commitment to the built environment.”
“As we embark on a new year, the BAC community takes great pride in inaugurating the exhibit A Legacy of Design Innovation: Shepley Bulfinch at 150 + Beyond in our McCormick Gallery,” says Dr. Mahesh Daas, president, BAC. “Celebrating our 134-year partnership with Shepley Bulfinch, this exhibit honors our shared legacy and its significant impact not just in New England, but globally. Together, we will lead the design of our communities towards an equitable and innovative future.”
The exhibit traces the evolution of Shepley Bulfinch, starting with its formation in the Boston neighborhood of Brookline, Massachusetts, by Henry Hobson Richardson. The award-winning architecture practice has influenced health and science design paradigms, from hospital campuses to teaching facilities. An education legacy with a specialization in library design has evolved to encompass a commitment to housing and urban development for a regenerative and equitable future.
Today, the firm thrives as a women-led architecture and interior design firm. Visitors can see original models and ephemera from some of the firm’s historic and on-the-boards work with site-specific installations created specifically for the gallery.
The exhibit also contains access to a self-guided walking tour that brings participants to Shepley Bulfinch-designed sites across Boston through the app AdventureLab©. The Adventure will be available to the public through the app on February 28, 2024.
