Signaling more growth in designing retail settings and flagships, the national architecture and interiors firm Dyer Brown has completed a modern reimagining of the Christian Science Reading Room in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. Inspiring visitors with a tranquil urban oasis, the gracious, sustainably designed renovation creates a welcoming face on Christian Science Plaza across from the iconic 1906 First Church of Christ, Scientist. 

Dyer Brown’s interior designer Samantha Worth, IIDA, WELL AP, the interior designer and project manager for the redesign, emphasizes their client’s tradition of opening reading rooms at every Christian Science church campus. The goal, she says, is to imbue each with a distinct design concept rather than a uniform branded look, and in Boston, Dyer Brown’s team designed and executed not just the interiors but also new storefront and signage, creating a vibrant street presence. 

“For the redesign of the Mother Church Reading Room, which has been operating for decades, the leaders saw an opportunity to grow the space by incorporating a welcoming storefront and entrance gesture that’s warm and inviting, with an instant feeling of home,” says Worth. “Their vision would appeal to a wide array of potential visitors, drawing in the public as a physical embodiment of their well-known slogan, ‘All Are Welcome!’” 

Retail Know-How, Mission Driven 

With guidance from Dyer Brown senior architect and experiential retail expert Paul Koch, AIA, LEED, the design team set out to craft a space suited for individuals and families, with varied opportunities to peruse historical and retail offerings. Most of all, it organized new, peaceful spaces for quiet textual study and reflection. 

Expanded to 3,250 square feet through an expansion into adjacent retail floor area, the reimagined Reading Room greets visitors with a completely refreshed storefront, the glass opening raised about 2 feet taller than previously. From inside, visitors enjoy expansive views and more sunlight and brightness, all set within a mosaic of large-format tile. Blade signs and illuminated signage designed by Dyer Brown adorn the façade, with a natural wood ceiling overhead at the main entrance on Massachusetts Avenue, facing the neoclassical Church plaza. 

At the entry, the word “welcome” is emblazoned in the floor of mosaic floor tiles in colors that are reflective of the inside. Then visitors find a spacious room with ring-shaped pendant fixtures suspended over tables and lounge areas marked by area rugs — an invitation to stay, relax, and read. A palette of neutral finishes and natural wood is accented in blue and green details, adding to the theme of oasis. The warm color tones, decorative trim and crown molding offer the feel of a comfortable, traditional home. 

The design features arched forms as an homage to the Mother Church, and a feature area in green indicates the retail zone, where a point of sale is located alongside purchasable items, including literature, bibles, kids’ books, and mementos. An interactive feature wall allows staff to prompt discussions with a question or a quote. (Visitors respond on notecards.) A coffered ceiling design helps to demarcate the various interior zones. 

Kids find the Reading Room especially inviting: Reading tables of varying heights, cubby-style seating integrated into millwork, and bookshelves — all under a under a blue coffered ceiling with recessed LEDs designed to evoke the feel of a starry night — inspire children to embark on reading adventures. Included In this space is a room for small events put on by the Reading Room, with a highly acoustic glass partition that allows simultaneous use for gatherings and visiting families. 

The venue also includes a breakroom, copy room, and other back-of-house supports to keep the staff members fresh. 

According to Koch, who has worked for major retail chains like Cabela’s and J.Jill, the church’s leaders  placed their trust in Dyer Brown’s creative retail expertise, making the Reading Room’s redesign and expansion an exciting and rewarding collaboration. “Our focus is always on translating client culture into vibrant, brand-inspired designs that support organizational goals,” says Koch. “The Christian Science church presented an opportunity to craft a truly original, unique brand identity for their flagship Reading Room. We took delight in that design challenge!”