While employed at Bechtel Frank Erickson Architects, Peter was the project architect for this project. The Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite is a charitable fraternal organization that has long been a leader in the Lexington community. When internal changes caused the Council to rethink their office space needs in Lexington, they looked to consolidate operations within their own museum on site. They also looked to Bechtel Frank Erickson to assist with that conversion. Two wings of the Museum of Our National Heritage were converted into offices and meeting rooms to accommodate the daily functions of the Scottish Rite. To the side of the existing museum, a new parking area and entry were designed to separate the new office functions while continuing to allow the museum to operate unencumbered. Much care was taken to carefully blend the new offices and entry with the existing brick structure of the museum. New window openings were designed to afford views of the exterior and modulate the existing facades. The new parking area design allows the pastoral landscape around the building to be preserved, a feature prized by both visitors and residents of Lexington alike. Photos courtesy of Bechtel Frank Erickson Architects.
