By Francesca Olsen
Photographs by Brandon Dupont
“We believe strongly in North Adams and the idea that contemporary design, art, and culture can layer and coexist really well,” says Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality Group, which manages the city’s The Porches Inn at MASS MoCA.
It’s in that spirit that the new FreshGrass Annex—with 10 sleek, modern guest rooms as well as creative studios—has been added to the complex on River Street (they are available for booking now and will open in early November). The project ushers in a new era for one of the city’s landmark redevelopment projects, creating a home away from home for artists. The building complements the brand-new FreshGrass Institute’s programming, which includes residencies, workshops, and community and cultural partnerships.
Eustis’ colleague, Chris Wadsworth, the founder and CEO of the FreshGrass Foundation (as well as co-founder of the annual FreshGrass Festival at MASS MoCA), owns Porches with his family and is “the visionary behind the project,” said Eustis. “Our families have been working together for 25 years.”
The new building, designed by Canadian firm MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, references North Adams’ industrial past and new creative present. Its expansive deck looks out onto the Porches’ courtyard space, which is flanked by Studio 9, a state-of-the-art recording facility that hosts world-class artists in addition to workshops with musical masters and a legendary open mic night that attracts 50-60 people every week.
Studio 9 was designed and built from the ground up with music and sustainability in mind.
The Annex offers well-considered space for artists to do even more. “The layering of communal porches, quiet guest rooms, and artist studios create opportunities for solitude, creativity, and meaningful social interaction,” says Talbot Sweetapple, principal at MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects.
Sue Killam, executive director of the FreshGrass Institute, enjoys seeing artists in their element. “It’s fun to see how rigorous the time is for them and what they need as humans. The Studio is the hub. But up there on the deck, people continue the good vibe they’re having.”
Space to Create
Each guest room is built for both serenity and serious creative work, with a transforming wall bed that offers flexible space, a luxurious bathroom, and furniture that evokes Shaker simplicity. There are nods to North Adams’ industrial past everywhere, including screenprinted panels inspired by the Arnold Print Works, formerly the city’s largest mill and the current home of MASS MoCA, right across the street.
Local folk-rock songwriter and musician Johnny Irion puts the new space to good use (BTW, you can catch him performing at The Lion’s Den at The Red Lion Inn on Friday, November 21.) The Annex’s three studios aren’t just for music; they are blank canvases for painting and other pursuits.
Sweetapple was inspired by North Adams’ classic New England housing stock and its many (now repurposed) factory buildings. “North Adams has a rich cultural and industrial history, with the surrounding landscape characterized by rolling hills and the historical remnants of the region’s manufacturing past,” says Sweetapple.
Sustainability was also a major consideration. The building uses passive solar technology; the siding is thermally modified North American ash, a process that heats wood for better stability. The wood is sourced from responsibly managed forests in the Northeast, and the architects worked with Bensonwood to create custom wood shutters and interior millwork.
All these things culminate in a space that celebrates the magic of North Adams, a city with numerous arts residency programs, creative neighbors, and a growing music scene. At FreshGrass Annex, traveling artists meet local artists and learn from masters of their craft in a place where those masters come to rest and record.
You don’t have to be an artist to stay in the Annex, though. “We fully expect a large range of people to enjoy and love these rooms,” says Eustis. “This is another layer of innovation in hospitality in North Adams, and that’s really cool.”
