| Project: Geography II Site: Mass Turnpike Air Right at Kenmore Square, Boston Elements of Urban Design Studio Harvard University, Professor: Martin Zogran Fall 2007, 3 weeks The Fenway area of Boston was the site for the group project in the final three weeks of the course “Elements of Urban Design.” As Boston searches for available sites to meet the city’s development demands, the air rights along the Massachusetts Turnpike offer an opportunity to accommodate new uses and meet the needs of local residents, businesses and institutions. The redevelopment of the air rights into the Prudential Center complex sets a precedent for air right development. The proposed redevelopment of the area around Kenmore Square helps to bridge to gap created the below-grade highway and create lease income for the city’s infrastructural improvements. Due to the multiple constituencies with interest in the development on and near the air-rights, a theoretical process of gaming the different players or constituencies before the physical design could occur. The challenge was how to address the needs of the local residents, Fenway Park, Boston University and the Boston Redevelopment Authority. The proposed design is for a new node in the city’s high spine, a string of highrise development that runs from Huntington Avenue, the Financial District and Prudential Center. The transit-oriented development would take advantage of the mass transit connections and create walkable streets sutable for the high volume traffic created by Red Sox sporting events. Proposed buildings are layered to meet the complex needs for parking, office space and affordable residential development catering to nearby Boston University and other urban dwellers. Team Members: Kerrie Butts Steven Chong Hongsoo Lee |
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