In a process that has spanned several years, and with continued community support, the Thayer Homestead development in Medway officially broke ground today. Construction will begin immediately on the restoration of and addition to the 150-year-old Thayer Homestead, a historic farmhouse built in the 1830s for adaptive reuse as a venue for community and private events. The new 4,242 square foot building is expected to be complete after about a year of construction.

Mark Cerel, a member of both the Community Preservation Committee and the Thayer Development Committee, recognized and acknowledged LLB Architects’ efforts in the planning of the project. Since the interview stage, the firm has impressed the committee with a design that responds to its context. Its history as an iconic New England farm, adjacent to Choate Park and a designated historic district, was inspiration in creating the new addition that reinforces the view of the surrounding landscape. As the committee puts it, the building has “wow” factor, which will be a major selling point for its future use as function space.

Chairman of the committee, Dan Hooper, added that LLB really understood what they were after in repurposing the site. As a hub for cultural and community events – something which was lacking in Medway – the redevelopment of Thayer Homestead is a new gem and a significant project for the town. The committee is optimistic about the continued success of the project during construction with M. O’Connor Contracting.