New England Confectionery Company Factory
Also known as: NECCO Candy Factory
Why it's listed
Rising six stories above Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, this reinforced-concrete factory was built in 1927 for the New England Confectionery Company, maker of the Necco Wafer. Designed by Lockwood, Greene & Co. and built by Hegeman Harris Company, it is a Moderne-style building faced in speckled beige brick with limestone banding, with a corner tower marking the original executive entrance. When completed it was the largest factory in the world devoted to candy making, in a city with roughly 375 factories. The company was also among the first to offer employees benefits such as life insurance and profit sharing. Inside, thick cork-insulated concrete floors and mushroom-capped columns supported production, with executive offices and a candy research laboratory on the sixth floor. A steam tunnel linked the factory to its separate 1927 power plant. Around 2002 the complex was rehabilitated as a biomedical research campus, with the exterior restored to its original appearance and the power plant turned into a cafeteria and auditorium.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the factory is significant as the headquarters of one of the oldest continuously operating candy companies in the United States, maker of the Necco Wafer. When built in 1927 it was the largest factory in the world devoted to candy making, in a city that was a major manufacturing center. It is also valued as an example of Moderne industrial architecture and engineering, and as a visual landmark on Massachusetts Avenue.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 05001209, listed November 9, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 250 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | November 9, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05001209 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1955 |
| Architect / builder | Lockwood, Greene & Co. (F.C. Lutze, engineer); Hegeman Harris Company, Inc. (Builder) |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: Moderne |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce, Engineering, Industry, Social History |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted around 2002 from candy manufacturing to a biotechnology research laboratory (Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research); exterior restored and the former power plant now serves as an employee amenity center. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.36094, -71.09780 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 05001209.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7007221
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.