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Lower Mills
Heritage State Park |
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Walter Baker Administration Building 1986
Walter Baker Administration Building Central Rotunda with painting of the famous “Baker Chocolate Girl” |
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management set
forth two major objectives for the development of the Lower Mills Heritage
State Park. The first objective was the creation of a high quality
recreational and interpretive Park within the urban area of Dorchester’s
Lower Mills neighborhood. The second objective was to stimulate private
investment in the project area through public sector improvement of the urban
environment. DEM’s strategy to meet these objectives called for, in part, the
development of the Lower Mills Heritage State Park, including a major
landscaped park, on-site parking facilities, interpretive exhibits, and
Visitor’s Center/Museum within the site of the former Walter Baker Chocolate
Company. The former Walter Baker Company
administration building, the Neo-Georgian style “jewel” of the Lower Mills
complex, built in 1919, was proposed to become the Visitor’s Center for the
Park, serving as the primary interpretive and educational focal point for the
Park, as well as for visitor conveniences and park maintenance operations. Thomas Mayo Associates/
Architects & Urban Designers acted as the architectural
consultant to the Project Team, led by Moriece & Gary, Inc., for the
preparation of the Master Plan and Schematic Design for the Lower Mills
Heritage State Park. TMA conducted an
extensive existing conditions survey of the Walter Baker Company
administration building, and prepared the Modified Historic Structures Report
for the use of the building as the Lower Mills Heritage State Park Visitor’s
Center.
Walter Baker Administration Building 1986 |
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