Shepley Bulfinch
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture, Planning, Interior Design |
| Founded | 1874 |
| Founder | Henry Hobson Richardson |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
Area served | Global |
| Products | Architecture, Planning, Interior Design services |
| Website | shepleybulfinch |
Shepley Bulfinch (formally known as Shepley Bulfinch Richardson & Abbott Inc.) is a global firm specializing in architecture, planning, and interior design, with offices located in Boston, Hartford, Houston, and Phoenix. Recognized as one of the United States' longest-standing architectural practices, the firm earned the prestigious AIA Architecture Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects in 1973.
History
The firm's roots date back to 1874 when architect Henry Hobson Richardson founded his Boston-based practice. Following Richardson's passing in 1886, the company operated under the name Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge until 1915. Subsequent name changes included Coolidge and Shattuck (1915–1924), then Coolidge Shepley Bulfinch and Abbott (1924–1952), before adopting Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott from 1952 onward. Expansion continued in 2009 with the acquisition of Phoenix's Merz Project design studio, marking the establishment of its Phoenix office. The firm's footprint further grew in 2015 through the integration of Bailey Architects based in Houston.
Currently, Shepley Bulfinch is recognized among the leading architecture firms nationwide by publications such as Architectural Record and Interior Design magazine. Its clientele primarily encompasses sectors including healthcare, education, and civic institutions.
Notable Projects
Significant works by Shepley Bulfinch include Stanford University's Inner Quadrangle (1891); the Art Institute of Chicago (1893); Harvard Medical School (1906); Harvard's River Houses developed between 1913 and 1972; New York Hospital-Cornell Medical School (1934); Northeastern University's campus master plan (1936); Smithsonian Institution’s South Quadrangle museums (1986); Lafayette College’s Farinon College Center (1991); Fordham University’s William D. Walsh Library (1996); Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven (2010); and Harvard Innovation Lab (2011).
The Main South Building at Children's Hospital Boston earned accolades from Healthcare Design Magazine in 2007 and received Modern Healthcare's Award of Excellence in 2006. In terms of healthcare project volume by dollar value, the firm ranked third nationally in 2007. Among its notable healthcare designs is Sherman Hospital, which upon completion in 2009 was recognized as the largest geothermal hospital project worldwide.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, completed in 1991 under Shepley Bulfinch’s design leadership, was honored with the American College of Healthcare Architects' Legacy Project Award in 2014 for its pioneering architectural approach. Presently, the firm is engaged in a collaboration with Lake Flato to develop the City of Austin’s new public library facility.