On a plot of land in Hingham, Massachusetts what appears to be a classic working gambrel barn from the outside reveals a bespoke entertainment space and regulation basketball court on its interior. Functionality is key as this barn can provide a full court press as well as refined dinner party for several guests. Dual outside porches and a loft offer specialized viewing platforms, while backlit custom timbers and black duct work sail through the trusses providing a contemporary appeal to a venerable form.

Renowned architect Patrick Ahern recalls the project, “So, we inherited an existing house, a relatively new, Georgian brick manor house that was kind of a replica house with some really terrible finishes on the interior. We gutted the interior of the house. It wasn't that old, about 20 years old, and we brought it back into style, and following that we developed a new pool cabana near the existing pool. The barn was desired to provide the clients with a dedicated exercise and gathering space. It has a functional point of view as well as a span-centric point of view which was important. From the outside you have no idea that it’s a sports barn, it could have been a working barn on the site before they built the manor house. I think it works really well.”

“We needed the barn to not feel like it was a dairy barn. We needed it to feel like it was an upscale barn and that’s why we selected the gambrel form to give it the clear ceiling height we needed for the basketball court. We had the ceiling height where we needed it, but also where it didn’t compete with the main house. That was an important piece. Then we used the dormers and clerestory lights to bring more light into the space while using the stone veneer on the base to anchor the building. Finally, the little farmer's porch which was done in post and beam gives you a hint of what the interior is going to be.

Every so often, a project comes across our plate that so aligns with what we do, it’s magic. Such was the case with Starfire Lumber Company, a keystone in the lumber industry, who came to us with an exciting opportunity. 

New Energy Works has worked with Starfire for years as a timber supplier. They supply lumber products all over the country and have been known for their quality since they began in 1983. They wanted to build a new corporate headquarters to replace a ranch house that they had been using for decades. Honoring the company history was an important part of the story for the new building, so heavy timbers and high-quality craftsmanship were going to be key. 

With a slate of timber framers to choose from, the Starfire team – including Sean Smith, President & CEO, and Curt Bodenstab, VP of Sales - called New Energy Works and had us come right down to discuss the design work. Without a doubt, that was a big honor. We established an easy rapport and Sean said that he could tell we were good listeners. 

After taking in the needs and ideas from Starfire, New Energy Works architect, David Shirley, AIA, CPHB, started designing a comfortable and efficient space that honored Starfire’s past, present, and future. While David ensures that every design he delivers satisfies the client, on this project he knocked it out of the park on the first try. 

Our founder & CEO, Jonathan Orpin, recalls, “once Starfire saw David’s first schematic, they said, ‘I can’t believe you caught it all. You took all our thoughts and words and made them better.’ This spurred us to work even harder to live up to those kind words and confidence.” 

This timber frame workshop, a partnership with Appel Design Group and Vanco Construction in New Jersey, brought together New Energy Works timber frame and off-site constructed high-performance enclosures. ReImagine Buildings does a deep-dive into the partnership, the performance, and the process of this innovative method of construction.