MER Update: Award Winning Architectural Firm Selected for Clinton Church Restoration

Taken from the Clinton Church Restoration Inc. website.

GREAT BARRINGTON (January 16, 2019) — Clinton Church Restoration has announced the hiring of Huff + Gooden Architects as the project architect for the restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church in Great Barrington. The New York City-based firm, headed by architect Mario Gooden, is one of the few African American architectural firms in the country. Joining Gooden on the design team is historic preservation architect John A. James, architect and historian Mabel O. Wilson of Studio &, and landscape architect Walter J. Hood of Hood Design Studio. Other team members include Silman Associates for structural engineering; Landmark Facilities Group for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection engineering; Berkshire Engineering for civil engineering and Accu-Cost for cost estimating services.

“We are thrilled to engage Huff + Gooden and their esteemed team of architects and engineers,” said Clinton Church Restoration board chair Wray Gunn. “They have outstanding qualifications in the fields of architecture, historic preservation and engineering and they bring decades of experience designing spaces that tell the rich stories of African American heritage.”

Clinton Church Restoration, which purchased the historic National Register property in 2017, plans to restore and repurpose it as a heritage site and visitor center dedicated to interpreting the Berkshires rich African American history and the life and legacy of civil rights pioneer and native son W.E.B. Du Bois. A performance space and fellowship hall will provide space for the community to come together to enjoy the arts, partake of educational programming, and learn about civic engagement, activism and social justice. Huff + Gooden was one of the firms responding to the nonprofit’s Request for Proposal for historic preservation, architectural design, and engineering services.

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The Clinton Church in Great Barrington was named one of Massachusetts Most Endangered Historic Resources in 2018. The Clinton Church Restoration, Inc. received a Community Spirit Award in November of 2018 for their dedication, advocacy and commitment to preservation of the church and in ensuring its important history endures.