Tag: boston | ArchDaily

One Milestone Life Science Campus / Studio Gang + Henning Larsen

Pilar Caballero — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Featuring distinct designs from each firm, One Milestone completes the first phase of Tishman Speyer and the Harvard Allston Land Company's Enterprise Research Campus (ERC), a new mixed-use development in Allston.

Studio Gang and Henning Larsen Complete One Milestone Life Science Campus in Boston

Antonia Piñeiro — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 05:30:00 +0000

International firms Studio Gang and Henning Larsen have completed Breakthrough Properties' One Milestone. The life science development is part of the first phase of Tishman Speyer and the Harvard Allston Land Company's Enterprise Research Campus (ERC), a 14-acre mixed-use district in Boston's Allston neighborhood. Located on the southwest end of the ERC, One Milestone is intended to serve as a hub for creativity, science, and entrepreneurship. Its recently inaugurated two-building complex, spanning 47,380 sqm, was designed to serve Greater Boston's scientific community. The two firms began collaborating on the project in 2019 with the co-design of a strategic framework plan, breaking ground on One Milestone in 2023.

MASS: A Non-Profit Model for Architecture in Service of Society

Mohieldin Gamal — Fri, 22 May 2026 07:30:00 +0000

At the time of writing, an article by Martyn Evans asked 'Is Architecture in Crisis?' In the same year, Reinier de Graaf published the book 'Architecture Against Architecture,' where he set out fourteen problems with the profession and discipline. The question of a crisis in architecture is a perennial one. Referring to architecture as a profession, it rears its head especially when economic downturns are expected or in full swing. Simultaneously, there are ongoing questions regarding the effectiveness of architecture at dealing with the pressing matters of the globe and society—housing, climate change, and human development. One venture that attempts to address these questions is MASS, established in Rwanda not long after the 2008 financial crisis. The clue is in the name, which stands for Model of Architecture Serving Society. MASS was created as a different way of practicing architecture.

From Diplomacy to Mobility: Six Legislative Responses Cities Are Using to Confront Climate Change

Antonia Piñeiro — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:30:00 +0000

From building codes to mobility restrictions and new diplomatic roles within city governments, climate policy is increasingly being shaped at the local level through a widening range of legislative and institutional tools. Cities as varied as Sydney, Boston, New York, Paris, Miami, and dozens across Latin America are adopting targeted strategies that reflect their distinct environmental pressures and governance structures. These initiatives range from all-electric and net-zero construction requirements, to traffic-control measures designed to curb the social costs of private vehicle use, to emerging forms of urban diplomacy that coordinate responses to rising temperatures and biodiversity loss. Together, these approaches illustrate how territorial management is evolving in response to the accelerating climate crisis, and how local governments are experimenting with regulation and collaboration to confront challenges that are at once global and deeply place-specific.

A Bauhaus Bathroom: Design Competition For a Public Restroom at Gropius House

Rene Submissions — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:45:00 +0000

Utilitarian and mass-produced, the portable toilet at the Gropius House unexpectedly echoes Bauhaus values. But it was always meant to be a stop-gap solution that is clearly inelegant and does not meet contemporary accessibility standards. It fails to adequately welcome visitors to this iconic property.

Through this competition, Historic New England is soliciting thoughtful, inventive ideas to solve this problem for future generations of visitors.

The competition invites designers to channel the Bauhaus spirit – experiment with materials, push boundaries, and collaborate across disciplines from architecture to landscape to graphics to industrial design – to create a permanent restroom solution and to

David Rubenstein Treehouse - Harvard University / Studio Gang

Pilar Caballero — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Studio Gang, the international architecture and urban design firm led by Jeanne Gang, announced the completion of the David Rubenstein Treehouse at Harvard University. Establishing Harvard's first university-wide hub for convening, the building anchors the new Enterprise Research Campus (ERC) in Allston, which is dedicated to fostering innovation and collaboration. The Rubenstein Treehouse is also the first mass timber building on Harvard's campus, setting a model for holistically sustainable buildings in Boston and institutions worldwide.

AI and Architecture Software at AIA25: From Code to Concrete in the Digital Future

Enrique Tovar — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 07:30:00 +0000

The future of architecture isn't just being drawn—it's being coded. Since mathematician John W. Tukey coined the term "software" in 1958 in The American Mathematical Monthly, its influence has steadily expanded, from revolutionizing science and engineering to quietly transforming architecture. What was first embraced as an innovation for structural calculations and drafting has since revealed a much broader potential, becoming a creative driver in architectural narrative and practice.

Designing for the Performing Arts: Architecture as a Stage for Experience

Diogo Borges Ferreira — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:30:00 +0000

Theaters, concert halls, and opera houses are more than just venues — they are meticulously orchestrated environments where architecture, technology, and human emotion converge. Unlike conventional buildings, these spaces must accommodate a dynamic interplay between acoustics, sightlines, stage mechanics, and audience engagement, all while maintaining an architectural identity that resonates with performers and spectators alike. Whether it is the immersive embrace of a vineyard-style concert hall or the grandeur of a proscenium theater, every design decision shapes how performances are experienced and remembered.

Diller Scofidio + Renfro Unveils Mass Timber Tower for Boston University’s Pardee School in United States

Nour Fakharany — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Diller Scofidio + Renfro has unveiled the design for the new Frederick S. Pardee School for Global Studies at Boston University, a project aiming to integrate sustainability, urban density, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The 70,000-square-foot building will rise 186 feet, making it the tallest mass timber tower in the Northeast United States. Situated on a former parking lot at the heart of the university's campus, the structure will occupy just 10% of the site, allowing for the creation of a central green space in the future.

The Role of Urban Spaces in Shaping Movements: 7 Sites of Resistance and Protest Across the USA

Camilla Ghisleni — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 07:30:00 +0000

Protests, civil disobedience, and dissent are not only a defining part of our shared history since the colonial era, they also continue to the present day on campuses, at political conventions, and elsewhere. In this context, some historic marches, sit-ins, and other actions are enshrined in our collective narrative, while others have faded from memory; however, the cultural landscapes that served as stages where these events occurred still exist. These places are the focus of Landslide 2024: Demonstration Grounds and a portal for re-engaging with the stories of little-known or even forgotten events that were pivotal in USA history. The thirteen different sites across the country, represented in the new report and digital exhibition from The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF), touch on events that shaped individuals and sparked movements.

Brutalism and Bureaucracy: An Architectural Language of Authority in the Postwar United States

Olivia Poston — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Brutalist architecture in the United States is a monument to collective postwar optimism and reassurance that the city and federal governments are in authority. Conceived as an embodiment of strength and efficiency, Brutalist structures were quickly adopted for the architectural language of civic and governmental institutions in the mid-to-late twentieth century in the United States. Towering monoliths of raw concrete rose across the nation, projecting an image of institutional permanence while simultaneously provoking debate over their social and psychological impact.

From Concrete to Green Canopies: Revitalizing Cities Through Natural Design

Moises Carrasco — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 04:00:00 +0000

The journey toward renaturalizing urban spaces is an ongoing effort that began as early as the 1970s and continues to shape cities worldwide today. From transforming highways into vibrant parks to restoring waterways and integrating nature into urban planning, these projects reflect a shared commitment to sustainability, livability, and resilience. In Portland, the 1978 creation of Tom McCall Waterfront Park set a pioneering example by replacing a highway with green spaces. Decades later, Boston followed with the Rose Kennedy Greenway, reclaiming land from the elevated Central Artery.

Air Rights Explained: Balancing Private Gain with Public Good

Jonathan Yeung — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 07:30:00 +0000

Air rights transactions have become essential in urban development, allowing cities to grow vertically while preserving limited land resources. Typically defined as the right to use or sell the space above a property, air rights enable property owners to transfer unused floor area ratio (FAR) to neighboring parcels, creating increased density and financial gain opportunities. However, the definition can vary based on locality and region, as each country interprets air rights and the ability to build or transfer them differently. As urban centers face mounting pressures from limited land supply and population growth, air rights continue to offer a creative solution that fosters architectural innovation and economic efficiency.

Boston University Center for Computing & Data Sciences / KPMB Architects

Andreas Luco — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:00:00 +0000

The Center for Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University is a landmark for the university. It transforms the skyline, meets laudable sustainability goals, and prioritizes human-centered design, maximizing collaboration and interconnectivity. The project brings together the mathematics, statistics, and computer science departments, building community among the 3000 students, faculty, and staff. Realized as a vertical campus.

The Rose Kennedy Greenway: How Boston Unpaved its Way to a Greener City Center

Moises Carrasco — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Greenways, as a typology of urban design, have become an essential element in the planning of modern cities. They emerge in response to the increasing fragmentation of urban landscapes by elements such as highways. They usually integrate natural and constructed spaces, providing much-needed connections across various parts of the city. At the same time, they promote pedestrian accessibility, recreation, and social interaction. The Rose Kennedy Greenway in downtown Boston, United States, exemplifies this human-centered approach to design. The project, which began construction in 1991, showcases the potential of greenways to reconnect urban environments and enhance community life. As a series of parks designed by various architecture firms, it aims to create physical links and meaningful spaces that foster social development and a sense of place.

MVRDV Unveils Masterplan for Redevelopment of Faneuil Gardens Public Housing in Boston, United States

Nour Fakharany — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 05:30:00 +0000

MVRDV, in collaboration with JGE Architects, landscape architects Copley Wolff, and Langan Engineering, has developed a masterplan for the redevelopment of Faneuil Gardens, a public housing site in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston. This project, commissioned by The Community Builders in partnership with the Boston Housing Authority, aims to replace the outdated 1940s apartment complex with five contemporary buildings that incorporate mixed-income affordable housing, artist live-work spaces, and significant green spaces. At the center of the redevelopment is a new community center, located along a public boulevard that runs through the heart of the site.

Simple Design Strategies for Extreme Heat

Pamela Conrad — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 03:30:00 +0000

Anyone who walks during the summer in a city like Boston knows that a significant amount of time is spent charting routes with shade. But I can’t use that as my only excuse for being off-task. Honestly, I’m distracted. The swirling headlines of the U.S. presidential election, an unprecedented UN climate conference looming, and the phrase “decade of decisive action” weighs heavy on my shoulders. While it’s easy to get caught up in current events, those of us with solutions must stay focused.

Transforming Office Spaces: Repurposing Underutilized Structures in the United States

Ankitha Gattupalli — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 07:30:00 +0000

The continuation of remote work practices has altered cities' bustling downtown areas along with the traditional office landscape, leaving behind many vacant spaces whose future purpose is a matter of speculation. Four years after the onset of hybrid working policies, office occupancy rates in urban centers remain lower than pre-pandemic levels, signaling a long-term shift in the work environment. Some developers have aimed to reposition these buildings while other are seeking alternative uses of vacant buildings in central location. While both approaches prove beneficial in their own ways, the potential for repurposing office buildings is vast and exciting. From residential living to cutting-edge research facilities, architects and developers explore diverse possibilities and challenges of transforming these underutilized structures into thriving new spaces.