News

WMHCC - Historic Window Repair – Case Study: Whately Town Hall
March 22, 2018
On March 15, the Western Massachusetts Historic Commissions Coalition (WMHCC) hosted a meeting that focused on historic windows, with presentations by practitioners and case study examples.

Jones Whitsett's George Dole presented the Whately Town Hall Renovation Project as one of the case studies. As one of four main presenters, George provided meaningful insight into the challenges that those doing historic preservation work confront when deciding to restore older windows. For more information and to view relative documents from the WMHCC meeting that took place here in Greenfield, visit the link below to the Preservation Massachusetts website.

Media Coverage:
WMHCC Presentation Archive

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JWA Continues to Support At-Risk Communities in Hampshire County
November 8, 2017
Just as work was wrapping up on the construction of a therapeutic gymnasium at the Cutchins Center for Children and Families, we learned that JWA had been awarded a contract to design a new teen housing project for DIAL/SELF Youth and Community Services. The new DIAL/SELF Northampton Teen Housing project will provide 4 units of highly affordable independent living apartments and a staff support center at Locust and Hatfield Street, Northampton. Combining first time independent living with support services, the roughly 2000sf residential building is the first new construction project to be initiated by DIAL/SELF and is made possible by the generous support of the Friends of Hampshire County Homeless.

Henry Albin and Dorrie Brooks are leading JWA’s design efforts and are focusing on a simple, modern design that fits into the context of residential homes on Locust Street. Each efficiency apartment will come complete with built in casework and furniture. The project will be design to exceed the Northampton stretch code with electric utilities offset by rooftop solar to be provided by Northeast Solar.

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Whately Community Center and History Museum Moves Forward
November 8, 2017
Wesfield Construction Co. of Chesterfield has been awarded a 1.3 million contract to renovate the historic Whately Town Hall into a community center and history museum. Jones Whitsett Architects, led by Kristian Whitsett and George Dole, worked with the Town of Whately over several years to develop plans and secure funding for the project which will preserve the historic character of the building while addressing important accessibility needs. The project is funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Historic Commission, the Whately Community Preservation Commission and a grant from the Massachusetts Green Communities Competitive Grant Program.

Wesfield aims to complete construction in the summer of 2018.

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JWA to Develop Master Plan for Princeton Center
November 8, 2017
On October 16, 2017 the Select Board of the Town of Princeton, MA awarded Jones Whitsett Architects a contract to lead an assessment and master planning process for four key public buildings in this bucolic, central Massachusetts community. Journalist Phyllis Booth of the Landmark writes that “Committee members agreed Jones Whitsett was head and shoulders above other firms that had submitted proposals.” The project begins in November with a conditions assessment of the four buildings, Bagg Hall, the Public Safety Building, Town Hall Annex, and the Princeton Center Building. Jones Whitsett Architects is increasingly recognized across the state for its work developing master plans and historic building preservation plans for Massachusetts towns and cities.

Jones Whitsett to plan for preservation of the Smith Charities Building
November 8, 2017
The Trustees of the Smith Charities of Northampton, MA recently awarded a designer services contract for a conditions assessment and treatment plan to Jones Whitsett Architects. The Smith Charities, a benevolent charity supporting the well-being of women and children in the community, occupies a historically significant 1865 Italianate brownstone in the heart of Northampton. The project, which is funded by Massachusetts Historic Commission and community preservation funds from three localities, drew considerable interests from local preservation-minded architects. The Jones Whitsett Team included Epsilon Associates, GGD Engineering and Structures North Consulting. Margo Jones and Dorrie Brooks will lead the project developing a long term plan to preserve this important architectural landmark, designed by William Fenno Pratt in 1851.

Update On JWA's Efforts With Mount Greylock School Committee
October 2, 2017
This recent article from iBerkshires.com outlines the involved process that JWA Brooks has undertaken over the past few months to help Mount Greylock's School Committee sort out their Capital Improvement project options.

Granby Elementary Groundbreaking
July 5, 2017
The end of the school marked a turning point in the town of Granby as students, parents and district staff came out to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Jones Whitsett designed addition/renovation at East Meadow Elementary.
Always a bit of a misnomer, the school's construction has been underway for several months. It is expected to be complete by the Fall of 2018.
Media Coverage:
Granby Students to Attend One Elementary School

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Greenfield 1st Grader wins MSBA "My Ideal School" Contest
June 22, 2017
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) recently announced the winners of their 11th annual “My Ideal School” contest. The grand prize went to Mariya Stytsenko, a 1st grader at Greenfield’s Newton Street School. Notable for us at JWA, not only because of the hometown connection, but also because of Margo Jones Architects work with the Newton Street School.

After extensive renovations in the early 1990’s, the school and MJA were awarded an Historic Preservation Award from the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1993. It’s gratifying to know that the school continues to affect its students in such a positive manner. Mariya says,
“"Newton School is a great place to learn because the teachers are helpful! Newton School is the best in the world! .... Also, it would be cool if our school had dinosaurs, pirates, skeletons, and was made of rainbows!"
Although we might not have figured out how to make schools from rainbows, we did get some dinosaurs in one of our most recent projects, the Plains Elementary School in South Hadley. Congratulations to Mariya Stytsenko and the teachers of the Newton Street School. Follow the link below to read more about the contest and see the ten other finalists and their art work.

Media Coverage:
11th Annual My Ideal School Contest

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Greenfield Approves JWA's Parking Garage Design
May 15, 2017
Residence, business owners and visitors alike got there first glimpse of the new down town parking garage in this article from the Greenfield Recorder. The coverage, which revealed several full color renderings, further inspired a praising editorial about a week later in which the publication's editor states, "Jones Whitsett Architects of Greenfield is partnering with a Boston firm on the design, which we were happy to see because principal Margo Jones over the years has shown a great sensitivity to local projects to ensure they fit into their neighborhoods and historical contexts."

To learn more about this long awaited solution to Greenfield's parking woes and Jones Whitsett's unique design, read the full Recorder article here.

Media Coverage:
Greenfield board OKs early parking garage design
Editorial: Finally, Greenfield gets the parking garage it’s been pushing for

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Mount Greylock Regional School Committee Chooses JWA
March 13, 2017
Mount Greylock's School Committee members voted unanimously to hire Jones Whitsett Architects to assist in developing a plan to spend the District's $5 million capital endowment. Read the full story on iBerkshire here:

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