now+next
The decade-long redevelopment of Old Colony, originally built in 1940, involves one of the country’s oldest federal public housing developments. It was the single largest property in the Boston Housing Authority’s portfolio and the most distressed – with aging infrastructure and high energy consumption. The sustainable multibuilding campus design is the result of broad stakeholder participation, which reimagined the historic public housing community and created a strategic vision to knit Old Colony back into the fabric of the South Boston neighborhood. The master plan by NBBJ involved the demolition of thirtytwo dilapidated buildings and the design and construction of numerous new buildings to create an entirely affordable housing community. The original superblocks have been demolished and replaced with new neighborhoodscaled blocks to incorporate pedestrian-friendly streets and open spaces with view corridors to the adjacent park and waterfront. The firm designed a mix of mid-rise and townhome buildings with diverse architecture and heights, responsive to the surrounding context.
ISSUE 1: 2023
CELEBRATING GROWTH + ADVANCEMENT
Identifying emerging talent for continued growth and expansion, TAT is celebrating promotions for three key team members. The newly elevated professionals include Nate Thomas, who has been named TAT’s Director of Sustainability; as well as Meghann Van Dorn, who serves as Director of Interior Design, and Kelly Margeson, the firm’s Director of Marketing, both of whom have been named as Associates.
These new appointments reflect a broadened emphasis on client relationships, integrated service offerings, sustainable design practices, and employee culture. The promotions recognize the significant and valuable contributions that these individuals have made to the firm’s
continued success. In their respective new roles, they will continue their current responsibilities alongside greater managerial, business development, and leadership commitment.
Meghann, Kelly, and Nate lead three essential areas of TAT’s practice, and embody the dynamic nature of the firm. They also exemplify the opportunities that are possible within TAT’s culture, which offers the freedom and flexibility for professionals to grow within the firm. The talent and commitment of these leaders – and their ability to work together and integrate different practice areas – will enable TAT to succeed in using architecture to foster prosperous communities.
“We’re excited to recognize these three professionals’ contributions to TAT’s success, as well as their enthusiasm for the firm’s culture, their commitment to our continued growth, and the pursuit of exciting new opportunities.”
— ED BRADFORD, AIA, NCARB, PRINCIPAL
NATE THOMAS, AIA, CPHC DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY
A skilled project manager and an emerging national sustainability leader with a focus on cutting-edge approaches to multifamily housing, Nate has embraced an increasing level of design and technical project leadership responsibility. In his new role as Director of Sustainability, he will spearhead TAT’s sustainable planning and design initiatives across a range of building types and market sectors. His current portfolio includes award-winning project work, such as a 55 unit affordable Passive House community for seniors at Boston’s Anne M. Lynch Homes at Old Colony. A frequent source for media on topics related to Passive House design, sustainable construction practices, and the role of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations in real estate, Nate is recognized as a valuable resource on many of the building industry’s most timely subjects in publications such as Multi-Housing News, Passive House Accelerator, and Building Design + Construction magazine.
MEGHANN VAN DORN, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C ASSOCIATE + DIRECTOR OF INTERIOR DESIGN
A respected design leader with more than 15 years’ experience in multifamily, hospitality, and corporate workplace interiors, Meghann is known for her creative design vision and collaborative problem-solving abilities. With a keen interest in sustainability and end-user wellbeing, TAT’s clients look to Meghann as a key advisor on the latest interior trends and designs for environmental benefits. She leads the firm’s national roster of interiors work ranging from asset repositioning and adaptive reuse, to largescale new construction for multifamily communities. Meghann’s portfolio includes 35 Garvey Street, a transformative mixedincome, transit-oriented multifamily development in Everett, Mass.; and The Cove, a 7-story mixed-use community with 173 residential units and 16,000 square feet of commercial space in Worcester, Mass. In her expanded role, she will spearhead a deeper integration of the firm’s architecture and interiors teams, further enhancing TAT’s reputation for exceeding client objectives.
KELLY MARGESON, BBA ASSOCIATE + DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Kelly’s professional practice includes a decade of experience in marketing, communications, and graphic design. She plays an instrumental role in developing the firm’s evolving brand identity and messaging and collaborates with TAT’s principals on business development, strategic marketing initiatives, public relations, and the firm’s client and employee engagement practices. Leading a multi-disciplinary team of media experts, marketers and graphic designers, Kelly has successfully collaborated with clients to win high-profile regional and national award recognition for TAT’s project work, and helped lead the firm in its pursuit of major national commissions and in the creation of valuable employee programs, and philanthropic endeavors. In her newly expanded role as an Associate, Kelly will take on new leadership responsibilities, working to enhance the firm’s culture, elevate internal and external communication programs, and develop forward-looking firm-wide processes.
The Passive House approach is a game-changer for affordable and workforce housing projects, which can significantly benefit from the design standard’s lower ongoing operating costs, healthier interior environments for residents, and a growing number of incentives from states and cities. This is a critical and necessary step in facilitating more and better affordable apartments, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the ecological footprint of buildings.
— NATE THOMAS, AIA, CPHC, DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY
AWARD-WINNING AFFORDABLE PASSIVE HOUSE BUILDING FOR BOSTON SENIORS
Informed by Passive House design principles, phase three C of The Anne M. Lynch Homes at Old Colony is a 55 unit, four-story mid-rise for seniors in South Boston – it is one of a handful of affordable multifamily developments in Massachusetts built to the stringent, energy saving standard
The 51,000 square foot structure reflects an important milestone in the decade-plus-long redevelopment of the Old Colony community, one of the country’s oldest federal public housing developments. The design features passive solar design and compact geometries to reduce thermal bridging, with a red and gray façade holding robust, heavily insulated walls. High-performance windows and a highly efficient HVAC system provide residents with a healthy and comfortable indoor environment by improving air quality and reducing contaminants such as mold. The project’s roof-mounted photovoltaic array also generates power to cut carbon emissions and boost sustainability and resiliency. A series of thermally broken metal fins act as solar shades bracketing many of the building’s window openings, reducing solar heat gain while also adding dynamic visual interest to the façade.
The building is far more resilient than traditional apartment communities in severe weather conditions due to very low air leakage and exceptional
thermal performance. These types of developments maintain their user comfort for significantly longer in the event of power outages. As the number of severe storms and extreme weather events increases, this is another clear benefit of the Passive House approach, especially for seniors who are at much greater risk of negative health outcomes from extreme conditions.
This innovative project was recognized for pushing the boundaries of Passive House design and earned a design excellence honor in the low-rise multifamily category from the Passive House Institute US chapter (Phius), setting an important benchmark for affordable senior housing as the number of people aged 60+ soars nationally.
Previous award-winning phases, also designed by TAT, have been recognized by the Boston Society of Architects’ John M. Clancy Award for Socially Responsible Housing, transforming the neighborhood from outdated mid-century superblocks to welcoming mid-rise buildings and townhomes set within
a walkable street grid and a variety of public open spaces. The comprehensive redevelopment and rebirth of the obsolete Old Colony public housing project includes more than 700 units completed or under construction.
PHASES 4, 5, + 6 AT A GLANCE: Phases four and five, also built to Passive House standards and currently under construction, will consist of 104 units per building – all of which will be affordable to households earning less than 60% of AMI. Fourteen units will be further restricted for households earning less than 30% of AMI. Extensive support services will be available to residents of the new transit-oriented development.
Phase six, the final phase, will include 89 units and first-floor commercial space dedicated to SPOKE’s headquarters – a community driven art program – with offices, an art gallery, and workspaces. This phase is designed to be fully electric, resilient, and Passive House certifiable.
Photographer: Ed Wonsek
LINCOLN BURLINGTON LAB
Burlington, MA
Client: Lincoln Properties
Renderer: TAT
The new construction of a 60,000 square foot four-story lab space and the fit-out of a one-story 30,000 square foot Good Manufacturing Practices facility. The two distinct buildings are visually set apart by a three-story glass wall at the entrance.
25 GARVEY STREET
Everett, MA
Clients: Impact Development Partners + The Neighborhood Developers
Renderer: Magician-GC
A six-story multifamily community with 125 affordable units for residents of Everett’s Commercial Triangle Economic Development District. The program includes 9 studios, 29 one-bedroom, 73 two-bedroom, and 14 three-bedroom units.
REVIO REVERE BEACH
Revere, MA
Client: Hines
Renderer: Magician-GC
Revio Revere Beach is a new mixed-use transit-oriented multifamily community comprised of 209 units and ground-floor retail. The resilient beach front development offers more than 20,000 square feet of a highly amenitized resident-focused program.
SKY EVERETT
Everett, MA
Client: V10 Development
Renderer: ZVZStudio
Sky Everett is a new 21-story tower comprised of 384 luxury units, first-floor retail, and 14,000 square feet of resident amenity space. The design program includes a destination rooftop restaurant.
+next
+fyi
Old Colony, one of the nation’s first federal public housing developments built in the 1940s, was renamed halfway through its redevelopment in 2016 in honor of Anne M. Lynch, a longtime active Old Colony resident, and mother to Congressman Stephen Lynch.
Clients: Beacon Communities Development and Boston Housing Authority Photographer: Ed Wonsek
