Endicott Park Danvers, MA

The Hay Barn at Endicott Park in Danvers was constructed in 1932 by Little & Browne of Boston, whose pedimented design lends an air of formality to a working farm building that was part of the grand Endicott-Peabody estate at Glen Magna. Long used as a storage facility, the town of Danvers contracted with SSV in 2018 after receiving a $1M MassWorks grant to revitalize the barn and transform it into an event center that can be used for weddings, assemblies, and community gatherings.

The ongoing transformation includes additions to the existing historic structure that are in keeping with its characteristic appearance. Space is added for a catering kitchen, two restrooms, and storage. The barn is accessed by two steep historic ramps, so an important upgrade is a new code-compliant entryway at grade facing the large lawn to the west of the property so that all people can enter the barn. Upgrades to the existing barn building to make it more energy efficient include installation of an HVAC system, sliding glass doors that allow the interior to be either closed for AC or open to the outdoors, and preservation of the historic barn-board interior by selectively hiding insulation under the roof. A final important transformation is addition of a new access road and parking area adjacent to the barn.