Custom House Block Receives Paul & Niki Tsongas Award

Custom House Block, Boston

Preservation Mass is pleased to announce that the Custom House Block has received a 2025 Paul & Niki Tsongas Award.

Completed in 2024, the rehabilitation of the Custom House Block preserved and enhanced this prominent building in downtown Boston. Long-deferred repairs to historic exterior masonry and the installation of new windows prevented further deterioration of this National Historic Landmark. The restoration of the exterior masonry was a challenge throughout the project due to the construction of the multi wythe loading bearing walls and the deep cavities in the brick wall. The existing brick and granite façade elements were successfully retained and restored. On the interior the existing interior brick walls, wood structure and wood flooring were retained and repaired. New shutters and shutter pintles with shutter dogs were fabricated and installed throughout the building to replicate the original shutters of the building.

This rehabilitation project revitalized an important and prominent historic resource in downtown Boston, showcasing how underutilized historic properties can be redeveloped in a historically sensitive manner.