A History of Beautiful Partnerships
by Alison Rainey
As an architecture and design firm, we understand the importance of infusing art throughout our daily lives. Art nurtures creativity and innovation. It helps us to share knowledge and sparks dialogue. At Shepley Bulfinch, we’ve partnered with artists since our inception to deeply integrate creative energy into the environment. Explore a few of the projects that have left a lasting impression on the communities in which we work.
Trinity Church
An iconic Boston landmark, Trinity Church established the Richardson Romanesque style of architecture, a distinctive interpretation of French and Spanish Romanesque styles. Completed in 1877, the building was immediately regarded as a landmark. In an 1885 poll of American Architect and Building News, now a part of Architectural Record, readers declared it the finest building in the United States. Designed in the form of a Greek cross with a central tower, the building is constructed of four types of local granite resting on a base of 4,000 wood piles, driven into the watery soil of the Back Bay.
Envisioning a “a church of color,” Richardson convinced the building committee to commission painter John La Farge to create a decorative interior scheme. Featuring Richardson’s favorite Pompeiian red, gold, blue, and green colors, La Farge created murals depicting positive images of faith and mission, a distinct departure from typical worship imagery at the time, gloomy depictions of the last judgement or the crucifixion. La Farge; in addition to nine different American, British, and European studios; worked to create the stained-glass masterpieces that adorn the windows.
Like a living being, the building has evolved in its 147 years. The West Porch, added by the firm in 1897, is based on Richardson’s sketches. This addition transformed the church’s entryway from a relatively plain exterior to an elaborate arcade. Featuring stone sculptures and friezes of significant figures and scenes from the Old and New Testaments, the porch is a visually striking and distinctive element of the Church.
Shepley Rutan and Coolidge returned to Trinity Church again in 1914, designing a massive, intricately carved pulpit and accompanying sounding board. These were dedicated as a memorial to Robert Treat Paine, chairman of the original building committee, by his children.
Chicago Cultural Center
The Chicago Cultural, designed by Shepley Rutan and Coolidge in 1893, is a testament of Chicago’s rich cultural heritage. Originally serving as the city’s first public library, the design reflects a classical Beaux-Arts style. The five-story structure is a fine-grade Bedford limestone atop a granite base.
Inside, the south side reflects Roman-inspired design, with dramatic arches, intricate ornamentation, and a 34-foot elliptical arch entrance engraved with the names of great historical thinkers. The north side contrasts with Greek-inspired elements – angular forms, military motifs, and the Grand Army of the Republic Rotunda, which boasts an embossed plaster ceiling and stained-glass dome. The firm partnered with artist Louis Comfort Tiffany to create stained glass windows, mosaics, and light fixtures. This includes the world’s largest Tiffany dome, housed in the Preston Bradley Hall, which spans 200 feet in diameter and is composed of 30,000 pieces of glass across 1,134 square feet of vibrant mosaics.
Over the years the library’s offerings continued to expand, and it became clear it’d outgrown its space. In 1977, a new library was built, and the building was converted into the Chicago Cultural Center, one of the most comprehensive art showcases in the United States. Today, you can explore multiple galleries featuring the works of local and international artists.
Art Institute of Chicago
Opening in 1893, this Shepley Rutan and Coolidge design has welcomed generations of visitors. A classical Beaux-Arts design, the exterior facade features a fine-grade Bedford limestone, conveying a grand and enduring appearance. Its entrance is famously flanked by two bronze lions, sculpted by Edward Kemeys. It’s opening year, the museum hosted the World’s Parliament of Religions, where Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda delivered his famous “Sisters and Brothers of America” address.
In 1913, the Art Institute made history again by presenting the Amory Show, an influential exhibition that introduced avant–garde European art to America and cemented the museum’s role in modern art. Both a museum and a school for fine arts, the Art Institute of Chicago remains a cornerstone of artistic innovation, education, and culture in the United States.
Harvard University Fogg Art Museum
Designed in 1926 by Coolidge Shepley Bulfinch and Abbott the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, the joint art museum and teaching facility was the first purpose-built structure for the specialized training of art scholars, conservators, and museum professionals in North America. Designed in the Georgian Revival style, the museum features by symmetrical brick facades, pitched roofs, and classical ornamentation. The interior courtyard is inspired by an early 16th-century Tuscan loggia. While the museum has undergone multiple renovations and expansions, the essence of its design – rooted in Renaissance art and architecture – has been carefully preserved.
Harvard University Quincy House
Designed in 1960 by Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott, Quincy House marked a pivotal shift in Harvard’s architectural direction. As the first House built after the original seven River Houses of the 1930s, it symbolized a modern era – often referred to as the “new Harvard.”
Blending contemporary functionality with traditional charm, the design introduced a distinctive residential experience for students. This includes two large abstract works by artist Constantino Nivola. His graffito — a combination of fresco painting and engraving on white stucco — spans the entire back wall of the dining hall. The second piece is a monolithic bas relief separating the stairwell from the dining hall. Nivola constructed the piece in his Long Island studio and shipped it to Cambridge in sections. Together, these pieces bring bold artistic expression into the heart of student life.
Walters Art Gallery Addition
In 1974, Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott designed a major addition to Balitmore’s Walters Art Gallery, originally housed in a grand but outdated 1904 Renaissance-inspired palazzo. The Centre Street addition, defined by its Brutalist architecture, introduced bold concrete forms and geometric clarity – reflecting the museum’s evolving vision and growing spatial needs.
The expansion provided modern galleries and improved facilities, enhancing both the collection’s presentation and the visitor experience. The striking contrast between the original palazzo and the contemporary addition embodies the museum’s mission to bridge historical eras and artistic styles.
Smithsonian Institute, South Quadrangle
Designed by Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott, the Smithsonian Institution’s South Quadrangle broke ground in 1983 and occupies a prominent site in Washington, D.C., bordered by the Freer Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Castle, the Arts and Industries Building, and Independence Avenue.
The 360,000-square-foot, below-ground complex was designed to house the Aurthur M. Sackler Gallery, the National Museum of African Art, and the S. Dillon Ripley International Center. Two granite entry pavilions and a limestone kiosk are carefully integrated into the landscape, echoing the character of surrounding historic museum campus, while asserting their own monumental presence. The design emphasizes timeless architectural qualities over passing trends, creating a unified and enduring civic space.
Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library’s Central Branch is an iconic and beloved piece of the historic city. Opened in 1895, the Boston Public Library was designed by McKim, Mead, and White. Part of a history of notable architects in Shepley Bulfinch’s lineage, Charles Follen McKim and Stanford White worked as draftsmen with H.H. Richardson in the first years of the firm.
The library’s design is an outstanding example of Renaissance Beaux-Arts Classicism. Featured throughout is a series of exquisite murals by artists such as John Singer Sargent, Edwin Austin Abbey, and Pierre Puvis de Chavannes. A peaceful inner courtyard highlights additional works of sculptures and painters. Renowned sculptor Louis Saint-Gaudens’ two marble lions sit atop the library’s grand staircase, welcoming visitors.
Beginning in 1984, Shepley Bulfinch worked to restore and renovate the historic building in phases, adapting the 1895 structure to accommodate contemporary needs. Our efforts have enhanced accessibility and engagement with the library’s collections, while preserving its art and architecture for generations to come.
Duke University David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Completed in 2015, the renovation of Duke University’s Rubenstein Library places art and archives at its center while revitalizing key historic features. The final phase of the transformation of the Perkins Library Complex, the design enhanced the visibility of Duke’s renowned collections and introduced vibrant new spaces, including a prominent exhibition and events area, a modern Research Room, and a state-of-the-art stack core.
Ringling College Alfred R. Goldstein Library
The Alfred R. Goldstein Library at the Ringling College of Art and Design is a bold, collaborative space that roars with the creativity of students and alumni. To match this spirit, we prioritized integrating art throughout the building. The design includes student murals wrapping the elevator core and “Momentum,” a mural by Ringling alum Julie Kanapaux, which spreads across three floors.
The upper floors feature terraces where burgeoning artists can find inspiration while taking in the views of the nearby bayou. The library serves a creative hub for the next generation of artists and designers.
Donor Network of Arizona
In 2018, we partnered with Donor Network of Arizona to navigate the process of designing and building a new headquarters. Recognizing this change as an opportunity to reimagine themselves, our team helps them move away from crowded and disconnected offices and establish the next chapter for their organization.
The design features an art installation by Jeff Zischke entitled Chromasis. The wall installation uses light as a metaphor for life and partnership, giving and receiving, representing the symbolic relationship between donor and recipient. The project is a testament to the empowerment of thoughtful design in creating environments that foster hope, healing, and community.
Princeton Firestone Library
Firestone Library at Princeton University was the first large American library constructed after World War II and is considered the academic heart of the campus. In 2009, our firm designed a complex transformation of the library to inject new life and create an open and flexible layout to keep pace with future demands in humanities research.
Broken into six unique phases, the decade–long renovation upgraded building systems, preserved high-value collections, and improved circulation and functionality throughout the mid-century library. Creating museum-quality public exhibition spaces, the design invites the community to experience Princeton’s unique and valuable collections.
Moontower
Located on the southern edge of Roosevelt Row Art District, Moontower provides multi-family, sustainable residences in one of the densest neighborhoods in Phoenix. Located within walking distance of galleries, cafes, and public art installations, the design embraces the energy and creativity the neighborhood is known for. Adding social art space between adjacent existing businesses and buildings, the tower melds seamlessly with the vibrant arts community.
Moontower supports this community through an artist-in-residence program. Selected artists and creative professionals have access to free exhibition, performance, and gallery space programmed throughout the building. This initiative allows artists to live rent-free while accessing creative spaces, enriching the cultural landscape.
Freed-Montrose Public Library
Our design of the Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library celebrates the vibrant character of the Montrose neighborhood through a prismatic color palette and local art installations. These design choices create distinct, welcoming zones that reflect the area’s unique creative spirit.
Art is a unifying element throughout the library. A two-story bas relief mural by Houston artist Kill Joy visually connects the floors, while a curated color story guide visitors through the space. Outside, a rainbow-hued trellis crowns the library, resolves the color story of the interior and provides connection to the vibrant neighborhood.
Alison Rainey, AIA
Principal
An award-winning architect and Principal at Shepley Bulfinch, Alison Rainey leads the design of environments for living, learning, and well-being across the United States.