2008.11.20
Salem Museum to break ground on city's first "green building" Dec. 3
The old Williams-Brown House, home of the Salem Museum, will soon enter a new chapter in its long history. The Salem Historical Society is ready to break ground on a major renovation that will triple the size of the facility and lead the way in local environmental design.
At 3 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 3, museum officials and G.H. Construction of Salem will turn the first shovelfuls of earth in a ceremonial groundbreaking. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony, and visitors can see displays of the architectural plans. Inclement weather plans are set for 3 p.m. Tues., Dec. 9.
The expansion of the Salem Museum has been in progress for several years. The cutting edge environmental building, Salem's first "green" building has been designed by SmithLewis Architecture. It will feature new office, storage, meeting, and gallery space and a floor to be used by the Salem Fine Arts Commission. Environmental features include a "green" roof overlooking Longwood Park, ecological heating and lighting systems, and intensive use of recycled materials throughout. The building is slated to be the first in Salem to achieve the coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating, possibly at the silver level.
"We are very excited to get the construction underway" said Linda Miller, Salem Historical Society president. "A lot of people have worked very hard for many months on this project, and we are elated that it is about to begin."
Submitted by John Long, Salem Museum director
