In December, Mount Auburn Cemetery unveiled the newly restored and expanded Bigelow Chapel, capping off a year of improvements designed to enhance the site and buildings at one of New England’s most famous historic sites.
Photo courtesy of Mount Auburn Cemetery
The renovation and addition, designed by William Rawn Associates with landscape architecture by Halvorson Design, introduced an updated crematory as well as a new multi-use event space overlooking the re-imagined Asa Gray Garden, also designed by Halvorson.
Able to accommodate 80 guests, the new multi-purpose space features an accessible entrance and provides a welcoming venue for gatherings, receptions and events. Its glass facade offers a panoramic view of the cemetery landscape, with the Asa Gray Garden serving as a focal point.
Photo courtesy of Mount Auburn Cemetery
Halvorson’s landscape improvements are designed enhance the new accessible entrance and complement the historic building’s traditional symmetry. Ornamental and evergreen trees filter views of the Asa Gray Garden, providing serenity and privacy. Within the interior of the new addition, Halvorson designed a courtyard viewing area to offer comfort to people attending services at the chapel.
To learn more about the Bigelow Chapel renovation and addition, please see additional coverage by The Boston Globe, Cambridge Day, and Wicked Local Watertown.