Cambridge City officials, in collaboration with Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA) and The Foundry Consortium held a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 22 to celebrate the completion of significant construction for the renovated Foundry Building at 101 Rogers Street. The transformation of this massive historic brick building is nearing completion and is expected to open this fall.
Originally constructed as an iron foundry in 1889, the building is an adaptive renovation project that will reopen as a self-sustaining hub for creativity and collaboration for the Cambridge community.
"The journey that the Foundry redevelopment process has taken has been incredible. City staff, the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, and the community have invested an enormous amount of time and effort into creating the future of this building. I believe that the approach we took to achieve the vision for the building has resulted in the right balance between building design, uses, programming, and operational sustainability" said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale.
Located at the intersection of the Kendall Square Innovation District and the East Cambridge neighborhood, the Foundry building will provide space and programs for visual and performing arts, entrepreneurship, technology, and workforce education within its historic, industrial setting.
The $46 million dollar project not only brings the historic structure back into productive use for the community, but helps facilitate access for residents, especially underrepresented communities, to the dynamic working and learning environment of Kendall Square. Construction was provided by W.T. Rich Company.
Photos: Greg Cook, Cambridge Arts