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Volpe Development

Cambridge, USA

º£½ÇÊÓƵ is supporting the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to realize its vision to create a dynamic mixed-use center in Kendall Square, Cambridge, home to many of the world’s top technology and life sciences companies.

The Institute’s development arm, MITIMCo is building on the Cambridge community’s extensive urban planning and visioning efforts to advance a plan that connects the neighborhood with new open space, pedestrian links, housing, retail, and science and innovation space.

º£½ÇÊÓƵ was engaged to provide multidisciplinary services across a number of phases for the development. Our MEP team supported architects Elkus Manfredi including studies around building services utility loads and spatial planning, together with detailed sustainability support.

Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA, is home to many of the world’s top technology and life sciences companies.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) aims to develop a greater sense of place around the Square, creating a vibrant mixed-use development.

º£½ÇÊÓƵ was engaged to provide multidisciplinary services across a number of phases for the development.

The project is designed to include an array of workplaces, residences, retail, restaurants, arts and entertainment, recreation and active open space.

Challenge

Kendall Square, home to some of the most innovative companies in the world, is central to the life and character of its local community. The proposed redevelopment of the majority of the former site of the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center provides a unique opportunity to strengthen Kendall Square and create a new connection to the surrounding residential neighborhoods. The project seeks to provide a mix of residential, office, lab, retail and cultural uses to promote new opportunities for shared discovery, community and collaboration.

For decades, MIT has worked with city leaders and the community to make Kendall a more diverse mixed-use district. The project, as an interconnected development, is intended to be an inclusive and equitable urban environment that nurtures, inspires and links arts and science, as well as people and events.

To meet this intent, the project is designed to include an array of workplaces, residences, retail, restaurants, arts and entertainment, recreation and active open space where people of all ages, abilities, incomes and backgrounds can live and feel welcome. This required overcoming a number of key challenges, from the technical scope of delivering a range of highly sustainable MEP systems, through to the wider challenges of supporting comprehensive community engagement with a broad range of stakeholders and residents.

Solution

The project’s proposed layout of walkable streets, active ground floors and four new vibrant parks creates a pedestrian-oriented experience that fosters face-to-face interaction. These amenities are designed to increase the frequency of interactions, build connections and bridge cultural differences.

Development is on a 10-acre site split between a south and north parcel with an approximate spatial program of 1.8million ft² commercial, 1.1million ft² residential, 125,000ft² retail/active use. The South Parcel is to include three laboratory/office commercial towers, three residential towers, a community center, retail pavilions and a performance venue. The North Parcel is to include one laboratory/office commercial tower and one residential tower.

We initially worked on the masterplan for the site. Our MEP team supported architects Elkus Manfredi, across the development of a comprehensive MEP strategy, which included studies around building services utility loads and spatial planning, together with detailed sustainability support.

Sustainable aspirations include 100% onsite blackwater treatment to enable the reuse of all building water, zero emission all-electric residential buildings, walkable community targets of more than 70% active use, as well as enhanced climate resiliency – the entire district will be significantly elevated to be above the 2070’s 100-year flood prediction.

As a separate phase, we worked on the South Parcel below-grade infrastructure, providing MEP, ICT, security and lighting consultancy. This included helping to develop the largest district-scale blackwater treatment plant in north-eastern USA, delivering broad MEP support across six buildings and delivering analysis for geothermal infrastructure, a district condenser water loop and utility steam systems to heat hot water efficiently.

Our team also worked alongside Reed Hilderbrand landscape architects across the wider site design, including providing MEP support for site lighting, irrigation, water features and events power. The infrastructure also included site-wide wifi, wayfinding, emergency phone and site security systems.

Value

º£½ÇÊÓƵ delivered expert consultancy across a range of disciplines to support the client’s vision for a highly sustainable, diverse mixed-use district that will allow knowledge-based businesses to thrive, supporting the economy on both a local and a national level.

Collaborating with architect NBBJ, our experts delivered MEP, ICT, security and energy analysis for the core and shell laboratory/office building, which includes wet and dry labs, a vivarium, offices, and retail spaces.

Partnering with architect Perkins&Will, the team provided similar support, ensuring the building meets high standards of functionality and sustainability. Working with architect Embarc, we extended our expertise to the development of retail pavilions, enhancing the commercial aspect of the district.