Cambridge Fire Department Headquarters
Location: Cambridge, MA
Noteworthy: Restoration of Palladian windows
M&A’s Scope: Window restoration and door restoration
Historic Status: Cambridge Historical Commission Designated Property
Owner: City of Cambridge
Architect: The Galante Architecture Studio (TGAS)
Preservation Consultant: Building Conservation Associates
General Contractor: W.T. Rich Company Inc.
The Cambridge Fire Headquarters was originally designed by the Boston architectural firm of Sturgis Associates. It is Colonial Revival / Neo Classical in style and has remained largely untouched until the major renovations and expansion of 2025-2026.
Work Completed by M&A:
The rainbow-arch sashes of both the Palladian windows were in desperate need of repair and had to be rebuilt completely. The arched casings with decorative carving and rosettes were in poor condition as well, and required extensive shop repair along with structural support before re-installation. The carved pilaster capitals were deteriorated and required Dutchman patches, and the balustrade with its half-balusters was severely checked but the repair work was able to be performed on site. The dentil trim at the base of the arches had to be removed for shop repair with new dentils added.
The windows were repainted in the original historic colors with gold-leaf detail. M&A restored and refinished the interior of the Palladian windows, and when the windows were complete, we installed new interior storm windows.
One original glazed building entry was saved and restored by M&A. Its transoms had a unique decorative design: the rectangular pane sections were designed as a series of mini arched glazed openings, each mullion having the details of a pilaster and capital, similar to the restored windows, except the molding repairs were in miniature.
M&A Architectural Preservation was proud to restore this 90-year old building’s beautiful Palladian windows, as part of a broader team contributing to the restoration of this historic building that has been a central part of Cambridge’s fire services for nearly a century, serving as both a command and operation center.
