Our November HRC meeting will feature a presentation on The Archer Residences, a clever combination and reuse of the adjacent Archer and Donahue buildings, both of which formerly served a variety of uses for Suffolk University’s Beacon Hill campus.  Indeed, with its cornerstone laid in 1920 at the intersection of Derne and Temple Streets, the Classical-Revival Archer Building was the first building erected for the university. A Modernist brick design completed in the 1960s, the Donahue Building represented the largest of several additions to the Archer; the original structure has been expanded five times over the last century and has housed uses ranging from a 1920s law school and movie house to luxury residential homes in 2020. The presentation by The Architectural Team’s Matt Duggan will recap the history of the building, demonstrate how the structure has accommodated several changes of use over the years, and discuss how a mid-20th century modern addition was reinterpreted to help write the prominent building’s most recent chapter, The Archer Residences.
Matt Duggan AIA, is a project manager with The Architectural Team (TAT) an award-winning planning, architecture, and interiors firm based in Chelsea and recognized as a pioneer in historic preservation and adaptive reuse for over half a century. With more than 15 years in the field, Duggan is a sought-after-expert on adaptive use and renovation initiatives with a focus on mixed-use and multifamily residential conversions. His portfolio includes the rehabilitation and reuse of large-scale industrial complexes, landmark school and civic buildings, and historically significant commercial properties. Frequently quoted in the media on project management best practices and real estate trends, Duggan is also regarded for his expertise in historic tax credits and sustainable design solutions for historic structures.