The Alewife Reservation, one of greater Boston’s largest urban wilds, provides a beautiful setting for a hub of scientific innovation. ADD Inc’s planning strategy returns ecologically-sensitive river frontage to its natural state by demolishing outdated structures and shifting development to other zones on the site. By introducing more typically urban concepts like density and structured parking, the planning maximizes the amount of unbuilt green space between the buildings. With careful attention to the site’s location within the 100 year flood plane, the team designed each building to house a floodwater reservoir--a vital preventative measure that will help minimize the impact to the surrounding community in the event of a flood. With the initial phase complete, Cambridge Discovery Park creates a crisp modern design vocabulary and firmly establishes a strong design precedent for the campus.
Client: The Bulfinch Companies, Inc.
Components:
Office/Lab 820,000 sf
Structured Parking 1,200 cars
Photography by Anton Grassl