Somerville, MA – Nauset Construction announced it recently completed the Phase II building of the Union 346 Apartments, located at 3 Hawkins Street in Somerville.
The project is a transit-oriented apartment community in Union Square built to Passive House standards, and involved replacing two distressed structures. It was developed through a joint venture partnership between John M. Corcoran & Company (JMC), The Grossman Companies, Inc., and SMT Development. It was designed by ICON Architecture. Last year, Nauset completed the adjacent Phase I building of the Union 346 community, a 94-unit building with ground-floor retail. The buildings are located in close proximity to restaurants, entertainment venues, and public transportation options, including the new Green Line Extension.
Phase II of Union 346 features four levels of wood-framed construction over a steel and concrete-framed podium, housing 59 studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, with 11 units designated as affordable. The building’s exterior facade is comprised of brick at the ground level and a combination of fiber cement lap siding and panels at the upper levels. Casement windows and an aluminum storefront are designed to provide ample natural light for the residences, while a sustainable TPO membrane roof completes the building envelope.
Amenities at Phase II of Union 346 include a community space with work-from-home pods, a rooftop deck with garden plantings, a sky bar, and a seating area offering views of the Boston skyline. The fifth-floor units feature private walk-out patios, and several of the units on the lower floors have balconies. The development also includes parking for 59 bicycles and on-grade parking for 15 vehicles, as well as EV charging stations. In addition, residents of both buildings have access to shared building amenities. Phase I of Union 346 offers a fitness room, bike storage and repair station, dog washing station, lounge with a kitchen and fireplace, and a roof deck featuring a fire pit, garden planters, and views of the Boston skyline. Union 346 also features an on-site backyard-style patio, complete with cooking grills and furniture. In collaboration with the City of Somerville, the project team also designed and constructed a publicly accessible park at the rear of the site that provides open green space for the community. Both buildings are professionally managed by JMC.
Phase II of Union 346 was designed and constructed to meet the requirements of the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), which is currently reviewing the project for final certification. This standard mandates compliance with rigorous benchmarks for airtightness, insulation, and ventilation to achieve ultra-energy-efficient heating and cooling, leading to significant operational cost savings and a smaller environmental footprint. Passive House design also provides residents with improved air quality, consistent indoor temperatures, reduced noise pollution, enhanced natural lighting, and minimized mold risks.
“Since its inception, Nauset Construction has been committed to green building and sustainable construction practices, and we are pleased that developers continue to recognize our focus of providing highly efficient, urban infill projects throughout the Greater Boston multifamily markets,” said Anthony Papantonis, president of Nauset Construction.
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“The Passive House design of the Phase II building at Union 346 reflects our commitment to sustainability while addressing the need for transit-oriented, market-rate, and affordable housing in Somerville,” said Tim Corcoran of JMC.
