The Jamaica Plain Branch Library was recently given a Boston Preservation Alliance’s 2018 Preservation Achievement Award honoring its success in keeping its historical character while undergoing a renovation. “Public buildings play a critical role in neighborhood success, and this is nowhere more apparent than in a library. But transforming a small, historic library into a vibrant central node for community faces many challenges. Here a tiny lot for expansion, a charming (aka small) building, and a more dominant, historic community treasure adjacent required threading a lot of needles. Layer on today’s program needs and success is miraculous. Here in JP the historic train-station-like 1909 library has been sensitively rehabilitated and joined with a sympathetic, modern new partner, a duo that will serve the city well for future generations,” said Greg Galer, Executive Director of the Boston Preservation Alliance, in a statement. The JP Branch Library reopened last year after undergoing a $10 million renovation.
Courtesy Photos by Aram Boghosian