Proto Mixed-Use Residential Space
Stantec designed the Proto Mixed-Use Residential Space to enhance the experience of the highly sought after apartment living in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Kendall Square is known as the most innovative square mile in the life sciences community. Over the last 20 years it has transformed from a sleepy office neighborhood, to a vibrant micro-city for research and office space where next generation break throughs are being made. Boston Properties set out to diversify the heart of the neighborhood with micro housing to serve the unique needs of this neighborhood’s graduate students and millennial STEM workers looking for modern, efficient apartment living with easy access to work.
Proto’s modern, upscale design aesthetic incorporates an abundance of exposed concrete which creates a light modern framework on which comfy furniture, bold graffiti, artwork, accessories, and custom textiles make nods to pop culture. Other design elements pay homage to Kendall Square’s rich history—its early connections to NASA, ongoing leadership in biotech, and historic role as a global center of research and innovation. A custom rug is emblazoned with excerpts from President John F. Kennedy’s legendary space exploration speech.
Robotic furnishings and consolidating amenities were strategies used to maximize a difficult triangular building plate yielding higher efficiency and more communal areas. The building is LEED Gold Certified and integrates smart technologies throughout. Located within walking distance of dozens of tech employers and institutions, the site is served by the MBTA Red Line.
Within one year of the first resident moving in, Proto was fully leased, showing strong demand in a competitive rental market.
Design: Stantec
Photography: Garrett Rowland
