Pierce Building

Pierce Building

Boston, MA

The Pierce Building project involved the renovation and rehabilitation of the historic building’s interior and exterior, part of an ongoing plan to revitalize Dorchester’s Upham’s Corner. Starting in 2020, the project was completed in two phases over four years. Phase one focused on the exterior restoration, including repairs to the deteriorated structural steel and replacement of the decorative cast iron cladding.

Phase two involved a full interior renovation of the four-story brick and marble Classical Revival style building. The existing first floor retail space was gutted to create new commercial space, and the second through fourth floor were transformed into offices, common spaces, and shared bathrooms. Kaplan installed all new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, lighting, sprinkler systems, paint, and finishes. Accessibility improvements included a new wheelchair lift and the rehabilitation of the existing 100-year-old elevator. Wood floors were restored and the project team collaborated with the Massachusetts Historical Society to ensure all new windows were historically accurate.

The second phase also included continued efforts to restore the exterior, including brick pointing and cleaning, stone replacement and repairs, and all new storefront and surrounds. Several structural columns were found to be deteriorated, requiring the building to be shored for repairs. An Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) system was implemented to monitor and protect the remaining columns from corrosion. The building is now occupied by JPMorgan Chase’s Community Center branch on the first floor and two local nonprofits on the second floor, while the upper floors remain the home of Dorchester Bay EDC.

In 2023, the project was honored with a Preservation Achievement Award from the Boston Preservation Alliance and the Mayor Thomas M. Menino Legacy Award from Preservation Massachusetts.