Creating a mixed-use, sustainable community

Bunker Hill Housing Redevelopment

With thoughtful and innovative master planning, architecture, interior design, sustainability, and urban planning/design services, we are helping the Boston Housing Authority’s (BHA) transform Bunker Hill Apartments into a sustainable, mixed-income community. Developed in collaboration with the BHA and the Charlestown Residents Alliance, the redevelopment master plan provides new buildings complete with housing, retail space, a new community center, and 7 acres (2.8 hectares) of open space.

Our design strategy for the redevelopment references the historic character of Charlestown while introducing a contemporary look and feel and reknitting an area that has long been divided by income and physical barriers. Its pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, scale, and public realm invite the broader community to share new parks and amenities, supporting efforts to break down social barriers and create a vibrant new community for all of Charlestown.

Emphasizing energy efficiency, affordability, and resiliency against rising sea waters, all the buildings will be designed to adhere to Passive House standards. The innovative hybrid structural system, featuring prefabricated light gauge metal framing and cross laminated timber (CLT) mass-timber panels, not only reduces construction costs and timelines but also significantly lowers the carbon footprint of the development. This project aims to set a new benchmark for affordable housing at scale and a model for equitable mixed-income communities designed with resiliency and environmental stewardship.