Boston, MA – Copley Wolff Design Group’s has expanded its streetscape work in downtown Boston with two
recent urban streetscape projects: Tufts Dental School in Boston’s Theatre District and The
Clarendon luxury residences in Boston’s Back Bay.
Located at One Kneeland Street in the Theatre district of Downtown Boston, The Tufts Dental
School looked to highlight the on the beautiful new building addition and expansion with a
revitalization plan for sidewalk abutting Washington Street. Working with ARC and Tufts, Copley
Wolff Design Group proposed a widening of the Washington Street sidewalk to introduce a
more pedestrian-friendly circulation pattern as a way to activate the newly-installed building
skin with LED illuminated concrete seatwalls. These new areas significantly ease the flow of
the busy entrance and “dress up” the building, giving the facility a more tailored, contemporary
and welcoming street presence. New hardscape elements provided the necessary planting
depth to allow healthy growth for the selected columnar maple trees and an array of native and
salt tolerant shrubs and perennials, which also contributed to the LEED Silver designation of
the building. Mature trees for the site were selected to provide maximum visual impact and to
provide an “urban oasis” atmosphere for the building surroundings. The result is a distinct visual
softening of the entrance. Building occupants and passersby now have a spot to sit and enjoy
lunch outdoors or to relax within the building boundaries.
Copley Wolff also provided a boost to the streetscape at The Clarendon, a new luxury high-rise
building on the corner of Clarendon Street and Stuart Street in Boston’s Back Bay. The building
is in a highly visible site located across from the John Hancock Tower and near Trinity Church.
An “upscale”, yet practical solution for designing streetscape improvements and pedestrian
amenities was desired. Using a blend of low-rise, native granite curbing, sculpted boxwoods, and
colorful “front-and-center” flowering annuals, CWDG was able to successfully disguise street-level
ventilation intakes servicing the building’s underground garage.
Serviceberry trees flanking the entrance to the building’s rental access provide a pop of color
and welcoming entry. Seven majestic elm trees, the same species present on the grounds
of the White House, were selected to line the street – offering a classic beauty and traditional
elegance to this new property. Suspended granite paver grates surround the trees providing a
flush presentation with the sidewalk, visually extending the sidewalk and allowing for a smooth,
continuous line from the edge of the property to the street curb. CWDG defined various entries
including store fronts, restaurants and residential entrances.
To further differentiate the entries of this mixed-use development, CWDG provided identifying
paver treatment around each of the three distinct building entrances: the condominium entrance;
the retail entrance and the rental entrance, giving each destination a sense of place and purpose.