Shepley Bulfinch celebrates 150th anniversary with BAC exhibit

Boston, MA Shepley Bulfinch is celebrating its 150^th anniversary of continuous practice. Recognitions commence 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 150^th year with an exhibit at the BAC’s McCormick Gallery,” said 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,” said 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 Brookline, 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 embrace a new 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, with a notable legacy of collaborating with clients who drive life-changing results through markets including healthcare, higher education, housing, and libraries. 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 early access to an anniversary-themed AdventureLab, a self-guided walking tour that brings participants to Shepley Bulfinch-designed sites across the city through an app by the makers of GeoCaching. The Adventure is available to the public through the app starting on February 28^th.

The exhibit is open to the public daily until May 7, at The Boston Architectural College, 320 Newbury St., and during key events including Boston Design Week. Please note the gallery will be closed April 15^th for Patriot’s Day.