Massachusetts state Senate renovations leave old chamber looking like new

The Massachusetts Senate in late February unveiled the fruits of two years of renovations to its chamber in the oldest part of the Massachusetts State House, just below the big golden dome.

The $22.6 million in work—which Christos Coios of CBT Architects led—included fresh paint, carpeting, and furnishings in a bid to make the room look and feel like it might have in the late 1800s. But it wasn’t all about aesthetics.

The work was also meant to modernize the chamber’s lighting and acoustics as well as its heating and cooling capabilities. That giant antique chandelier over the chamber now has LED bulbs, for instance. And the work made much of it more accessible, including making all 40 senatorial desks wheelchair accessible.

These photos come courtesy of CBT Architects.

Anton Grassl/CBT Architects

Anton Grassl/CBT Architects

Anton Grassl/CBT Architects