New England Mixed Use Development | New England | 2020

Architects: Trahan Architects
Client: Private

The urban mixed-use development project is conceived as part of a larger master plan in the downtown area of a New England metropolis.

The building will have multiple front doors and important connections across major arterials.

The building is anticipated to have one level of retail on the ground floor with a retail-lined public passageway running east-west through the building.

Levels two and three will house a performing arts venue with lobby space on the ground floor, and commercial offices above.

The performing arts venue will be used by local arts institutions and will provide a new space for performances to be enjoyed by both tourists and locals.

The project is organized around a central carved void – at ground floor, the passage locates all of the lobby spaces within a sheltered, sculptural volume; starting at the second floor, the carve defines the 3 performing arts venues, placing the largest venue on one half of the divide and the 2 smaller spaces on the other half, ascending from levels 4-16 all of the core elements for the prime office spaces fall within the cleavage, and finally from levels 17-20 the form pulls apart to create several ultra-exclusive office plates.

The project’s façade incorporates extensive granite cladding elements. The split face granite fins provide solar shading, while the primarily solid granite base is carved to reveal active retail areas.

Sourced from one of the last quarries operating in the North East, the Chelmsford Grey Granite roots the building in its context.

By resisting the status quo of all glass office blocks, the use of solid granite materiality allows the project to negotiate between the historic neighborhood comprised of heavy masonry factory buildings and the new high-tech master plan beyond.