Located on one of the most prominent urban renewal sites of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, Parcel RC-9, the mixed-use development at 1601 Washington Street, is one of the most significant new South End projects in the last two decades. The 145,000 s.f. of floor area includes apartments, townhouses, retail and new facilities for the 25-year-old South End Community Health Center (SECHC).

The "main building" contains the SECHC which is located above sidewalk-level retail shops, a 2,000 s.f. corner sidewalk cafe and a 10,000 s.f. CVS Neighborhood Pharmacy. With three additional floors of market rate condominiums, the six-story mid-rise reinforces the civic urban scale of the boulevard. The design blends a contemporary expansion of brick, stone and ironwork which predominates in the surrounding historic landmarks district, with a traditional structural composition of base/middle/top. The balance of the site, dedicated to "weaving" together the fractured fabric of the diversified neighborhood with the large "main building" will contain nineteen new single family townhouses, a rediscovered through-block street and community gardens for local residents.

A highly visible and publicly open design process forged a partnership between the SECHC, developers, architect, neighborhood associates and the city. In February 1996, the City of Boston Redevelopment Authority began this project with the resounding approval of the entire South End community, and it was completed in 1997.

Scott Wilson was Principal-in-Charge while with Rothman Partners, Inc.

Project Info
Cost: $21,000,000
Complete: 1997
Scope: Architecture
Client: Boston Redevelopment Authority
Staff: Scott Wilson, AIA; while with Rothman Partners, Inc.

commercial / retail