Elmhurst, the sprawling mansion on the grounds of Springside Park, a 249 acre park in Pittsfield, is an Italianate home constructed in 1856 by Abraham Burbank. Over the years, various owners and occupants of the home renovated the interior to reflect the contemporary aesthetic fashionable at the time. As a result, much of the interior fabric of the house has been removed. Whatever material from its original construction remains is hidden deep under layers of more modern treatments and finishes.
The City of Pittsfield contracted CME Architecture Director Lyn Smith in December of 2013 to perform a conditions analysis and prepare a feasibility study for the preservation and adaptive reuse of this significant historic asset. The project involved intensive community outreach and collaboration with the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the City of Pittsfield. The building is currently undergoing renovation and will serve as a community resource for exhibits, gathering spaces and offices for local groups.
Other Feasibility Studies;
- Chamberlin Mill (1868) Non-profit reuse possibilities Woodstock, CT
- Case Cabin (1918) Log cabin in the Case Brothers NRHD Manchester, CT
- Fitch Hoose House (1846) Freedom Trail site Dalton, MA
- CT Audubon Edwin Way Teale Home and Sanctuary Hampton, CT
Evelyn Cole Smith Architects 