In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge chose an oceanfront property located in Swampscott, Massachusetts to serve as his summer White House. The property known as White Court was designed in 1895 by Architect Arthur Little who specialized in blending Colonial Revival and Beaux Arts styles. Initially a single-family home, the Sisters of Mercy purchased the estate for use as a school. Overtime multiple additions were built for supplementary classroom space, vinyl siding was installed covering the original facade, and historical features were lost to disrepair due to long-term deferred maintenance. In 2015, with the school’s closure and the building in a drastic state of deterioration, a team was assembled to embark on a project to revitalize and re-establish life and luxury to the property.
The project involved carefully ensuring the preservation of the structure’s original design and salvaging and incorporating numerous architectural details while integrating modern amenities. Twenty units were distributed across three separate buildings forming an ocean-front court connected by an underground parking garage. Evoking the original Beaux-Arts and Colonial Revival details, the center building was rebuilt in the same form and initial design of the home using historic photos to bring back lost details. The two flanking buildings pay homage to the historic style upon entry and as they unfold reveal a modern spirit offering residents privacy, open plans, expansive ocean views, and contemporary comforts.
Drawings and Images Courtesy of
Saltsman Brenzel Design & Construction