Kendall Square Research Park (Cambridge)

In early 1998, Lyme Properties engaged Urban Strategies to create a master plan for the Kendall Square Research Park site. Working in close consultation with the City of Cambridge and the local community, Urban Strategies created a broadly endorsed vision which received planning approval and is fully constructed. The site is located in the area generally known as Kendall Square, at the heart of a district framed by the MIT campus, the Charles River and the East Cambridge neighborhood. The ten-acre property was one of the last large development parcels in Cambridge. The transformation of this site involved the creation of new urban blocks defined by a simple but varied public realm, which connects seamlessly to its context. As part of a tightly phased implementation, Urban Strategies coordinated four international competitions which resulted in a progressive team of architectural and landscape consultants.

The Kendall Square development is a highly urban, mixed-use community featuring biotech labs, offices, residential condos and apartments, restaurants and retail.  The complex is home to the Genzyme Center and the Vertex Building. The North Plaza was designed to be active in all seasons, with community ice-skating in the winter and a multipurpose square, suitable for performances and markets in the summer.