Project Place – Gatehouse in Boston

Designed by Hacin + Associates (Boston MA) with project team members Consigli Construction (general contractor, Milford, MA); Interseminarian Project Place (developer, Boston), Souza, True and Partners (structural engineer, Watertown, MA), Nitsch Engineering (civil engineer, Boston), RW Sullivan (M/E/P engineers, Boston), Bruce T. Martin (photographer, Natick, MA), Josh Kuchinsky (photographer, Brookline, MA), and Duffy Design Group (interior designers, Boston) coordinated interior design with Barnum + Company, Carter & Co., Dietz & Associates, Doreve Nicholaeff Architects, Duncan Hughes Interior, Eric Roseff Designs, Gauthier – Stacy, Heather G. Wells, Homeworks, Logan Gowdy, Mark Bombara Interior Design, Mark Christofi Interior Design and Terrat Elms

This newly constructed building in Boston’s South End features 14 affordable single-room-occupancy units (13 for the formerly homeless), an active ground-floor restaurant, and office and program space for the building’s nonprofit owner. Residents enjoy access to on-site job training, work experience, education and support services. We liked the plan for this compact building, which includes two geothermal wells and ensures long-term affordability through energy-efficient features that keep operating expenses down and commercial space that helps subsidize the SRO units. The design is one of the better examples of mixed-used development: there’s a nice balance between the commercial and residential sides and thoughtful attention to how dimensions and materials differentiate between the two. The ground floor is addressed as a public realm, and this gives the building a street presence. Kudos to the designer for making affordable city housing that transcends being merely urban to become truly urbane.