Kennedy Gallery: Rediscovered History

Uncovering a Hidden Treasure

What could be more thrilling than uncovering a long-lost treasure? During the renovation of the Kennedy Gallery storefront in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, that’s exactly what happened. As carpenters carefully dismantled a 1960s brick façade, they uncovered a remarkable surprise: the original 1883 cast iron columns, beautifully preserved beneath decades of concealment.

These architectural relics sparked a design approach rooted in reverence and restraint. Guided by the newly revealed columns and archival images of the original building, Benjamin Nutter Architects approached the redesign with a light, thoughtful hand—true to the firm’s understated, preservation-minded tone. The result is a gracefully detailed façade that reclaims the spirit of its 19th-century origin while seamlessly serving today’s needs.

In this transformation, all who pass by share in the quiet joy of rediscovered beauty.