B B Chemical Company facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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B B Chemical Company
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 784/780 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch & Abbott |
| Architectural style | Streamline Moderne |
| MPS | Cambridge MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001918 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1982 |
The B B Chemical Company building is a historic office and factory building. You can find it at 784 Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was built in 1937 for the Boston Blacking Company. This company made adhesives, and their most famous brand was Bostik. The building was designed by a famous architecture firm called Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch & Abbott. It is a great example of Streamline Moderne architecture in the area. From 1979 to 1996, it was the main office for the Polaroid Corporation. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It is now owned by The Bulfinch Companies.
Contents
What the Building Looks Like
The former B B Chemical Company building is in the Cambridgeport neighborhood of Cambridge. It sits on the east side of Memorial Drive. This is between River Street and Pleasant Street Extension. The building is mostly rectangular. It has a four-story section in the middle. On each side of this central part are three-story wings.
Building Materials and Design
The building's main structure is made of steel and concrete. Most of its outside is covered in light brown brick. The middle section of the building is set back a bit from the wings. However, a roof-like structure from the wings extends over this space. It forms a cool curved cover over the main entrance. The very center of the building is even taller. It has a rounded window area with a clock face on top.
Symmetry and Windows
The two wings of the building are exactly alike. The ground floor of these wings has many glass blocks. These are mixed with horizontal windows placed evenly apart. The upper floors have long, continuous bands of horizontal windows. This design gives the building a sleek, modern look.
History of the B B Chemical Company Building
The building was designed by Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch & Abbott. It was finished in 1937. The B B Chemical Company was a part of the United Shoe Machinery Corporation since 1929. In 1946, the company said it made "adhesives and related compounds." These were used in many industries. They supplied glue for shoes, leather, aircraft, rubber clothing, and shipbuilding.
From Adhesives to Photography
This building, along with a simpler one behind it, produced adhesives. These glues were used in shoe factories. Later, in 1979, the building became the main office for the Polaroid Corporation. Polaroid was famous for its instant cameras.
Current Use of the Building
Today, The Bulfinch Companies owns the building. It is currently used by Harvard University's Information Technology group, known as HUIT. This means a historic building now houses modern technology services.
