The creation of a network of distinctive public spaces in the historic core of Boston was the fundamental strategy of bringing residential back to the site of Boston’s first high density housing, introduced by Charles Bulfinch in 1795. Approaching the new millennium, Boston’s formerly bustling downtown had become dominated by vehicular traffic and empty storefronts. A forward-thinking development strategy combining vibrant open spaces and high-quality residences brought new life to the area, redefining the core as a pedestrian-first, resident-friendly district.
Three city-owned parcels —largely reclaimed from former asphalt roadways —were reimagined as public open spaces: Downtown Crossing Plaza, Tontine Crescent and Winthrop Center Park. Developed in close collaboration with the City of Boston, these sites are a version of a “POP” – they are privately developed and maintained, public open spaces on City owned land.
Located at a historic pedestrian nexus and developed along with a new residential building, Downtown Crossing Plaza redesigned a subway entrance and its surroundings, reimagining transit infrastructure as civic space. A new amphitheater structure, built above a transparent glass headhouse, provides seating for relaxing and enjoying performances. This first project established a common language for the Downtown Core, with a distinctive paving strategy that was adopted by other parts of the urban design, creating a coherent foundation for the three projects. Also associated with this first project was the important redevelopment of a landmark retail building, bringing street fronting food, beverage and grocery amenities to an important existing pedestrian street.
The second project, Tontine Crescent, reclaims a historic street originally designed by Charles Bullfinch as housing and with a central garden. Over time this street had widened into a five-lane roadway. Through the strategy of a “road diet”, the City, the developer and landscape architect initiated a tactical plaza to test the viability of the new open space. The painted plaza was a tremendous success. Soon after, three lanes of roadway were permanently repurposed into a plaza featuring sculptural oversized seating planters, a protected bike lane, and abundant room for moveable tables and chairs. Due to a dense subsurface web of utilities, canopy trees were located in the raised planters.
Stretching further down the street, Winthrop Center Park is located in a beautifully scaled urban room adjacent to a new Passive House office building and residential tower that includes a large internal public space, known as “the Connector”. Once an overgrown, neglected plaza adjacent to an abandoned parking garage, the site was transformed through the reclamation of excess road for pedestrian use- expanding the plaza and creating a level “tabletop” that reaches out to the Connector. The concept for the redesign was inspired by the idea of water – a frequent center of historic squares. The central splash of water ripples outward, transforming the plaza with dynamic rings of stone planters, seating and trees. At its center, a stone oval dynamically pushes out from the ground with water both sheeting down at the edges and springing up from the center. Water, plantings, and shaded seating form an immersive, tranquil civic center that works synergistically with other components in the district.
Throughout the Downtown Core, streetscape enhancements — including signature paving patterns, narrowed vehicular lanes, and an abundance of new street trees— tie the public realm together. From the Boston Common along the widened pedestrian corridor of Summer Street, through Downtown Crossing, onwards to Winthrop Square and Tontine Crescent, the streetscape serves as the connective tissue for the public realm, supporting its role as both circulation driver and destination.
Through the collaborative efforts of the development lead, the design teams, and the City of Boston, the Downtown Core Urban Design has created an evolving urban tapestry that harmoniously shores up the city. The smart development of anchoring high-quality residential development with signature public spaces and safe, attractive streetscapes has redefined how this part of the city center feels and functions, forming the backbone of a vibrant public urban realm in which the community can live, gather and recreate.
Revitalize BOS
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Client: Millennium Partners
Designer Credit:
Ground Inc. – Landscape Architect, Design Lead Tontine Crescent Plaza and Winthrop Center Park
Höweler + Yoon – Architect, Downtown Crossing Plaza
Richard Burck Associates – Landscape Architect, Downtown Crossing Plaza
Collaborators/Other Consultants:
Elise Mazareas Nash – Planting Consultant
Paul Miller – Architectural Consultant
Steve Euser – Water Feature Consultant, DEW Inc.
Jarret Johnson – Structural Engineer, Desimone Consulting Engineers
McNamara Salvia – Structural Engineer
Nitsch Engineering, Inc. – Civil Engineers
Howard Stein Hudson – Civil Engineer
Lam Partners – Lighting Consultants
HLB – Lighting Consultants
Irrigation Consulting Inc. – Irrigation Designer
Suffolk Construction – General Contractor
Brightview – Landscape Contractor
Weston & Sampson – Water Feature Contractor