Navigating Complications, Museum Moves Closer to Re-opening

Flooding and water damage are never a good thing, but in the case of the West End Museum, the flood that occurred inside the building at 150 Staniford Street last February has created great opportunity to look carefully at how it utilizes its floorplan.

“One of our goals is to maximize flexibility in the space,” said Executive Director Sebastian Belfanti, noting that the Museum had begun instituting plans for a makeover before the pipes burst and water found its way into the ground-floor space. “So, we have reconfigured our architectural plans – that originally included permanent walls – to fit our needs and allow us to utilize movable walls for our future exhibitions.”

Repairs to the Museum’s exterior walls and ceiling were the responsibility of the building itself and Belfanti says most of that work, including new flooring, is well underway. “Inside, it’s obvious work has been done. Anyone peeking inside from the street can see that,” he said.

But in the process of evaluating damage from the February flood, Belfanti discovered additional problems that had to be addressed as part of the overall repairs. For years, water had been leaking in from the building’s façade to the Museum’s east-facing wall, causing significant damage. “The most complicated part of this whole thing has been the exterior wall, which has been leaking for decades. Once we opened the walls, we were able to evaluate ongoing issues that had to be addressed before walls could be closed again,” Belfanti said.

With work ongoing, Belfanti believes the Museum will be ready to reopen in the spring of 2023. Between now and then, work crews will move the Museum’s main entrance on Lomasney Way closer to Staniford Street.

“Visitors will immediately recognize a new layout inside the museum, including new window displays,” which Belfanti said will add to the visitor experience and allow the Museum to reimagine how it tells the story of one of Boston’s oldest neighborhoods.