American Society of Landscape Architects ASLA 2007 Professional Awards
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This site plan of 29 Garden Street residence hall shows the spatial relationship of the garden courtyard to the architecture. The drawing is cut through the third-story level apartments to emphasize the connections between the second-story garden courtyard and Garden Street, the hallways and specific units.

The photograph on top depicts the existing police station building before any architectural or landscape intervention. The image on bottom is a montage that illustrates the design team's proposed double-height threshold, widened sidewalks, and street plantings along Garden Street.

This photograph shows the unadorned roof of the existing parking garage roof looking west (top) and east (bottom) before any architectural or landscape intervention.

This photograph shows the final installation of roof garden courtyard looking northwest from existing headhouse. (Photo: Steve Lee)

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GENERAL DESIGN HONOR AWARD

Harvard Graduate Student Housing at 29 Garden Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Richard Burck Associates, Inc., Jonathan Levi Architects with Bergmeyer Associates, Somerville, Massachusetts
client: Harvard University


"What a great way to expose students to contemporary issues and solutions. It's so simple, yet nicely detailed, and shows a lot of restraint."

— 2007 Professional Awards Jury Comments

Project Statement

The adaptive reuse of a former police station transformed 29 Garden Street into a new residence hall for Harvard University and a notable example of green roof design in the Boston area. The second-floor garden courtyard built atop the unadorned roof of the existing parking garage provides an outdoor amenity for residents and has made this dwelling one of the most sought after on campus.

Project Narrative

The adaptive reuse of a former police station and parking garage transformed 29 Garden Street into a new residence hall for Harvard University graduate students, faculty, and employees. At the street level, we were charged with improving a 5,000 square foot pedestrian environment with shade tree plantings and renovated sidewalks. The program also called for the creation of a second floor level 10,600 sf garden courtyard on the unadorned roof of the existing parking garage. This space would not only be an outdoor amenity for the residents, but also provide access to Garden Street, the parking garage below and a row of third-floor units above. Programmatically, it needed to accommodate sitting, studying, and socializing for individuals or small groups.

Our intention was to create a garden with a varied and changing two-dimensional composition given the considerable constraint of a limited soil loading capacity. We created a patterned ground plane comprised of two cohorts of extensive vegetation, alternating in bands of greens and reds for most of the growing season. A wide variety of sedum species were carefully chosen for their hardiness in extensive planting systems as well as their ability to create year round interest. Paths of wood decking and concrete unit pavers cut through the vegetation beds and allow for areas of strolling and seating along the way. Intensive planters support Arnold Promise Witch hazels and Junipers for screening purposes where the garage structure can accommodate the added load needed for the three-foot soil depth.

Our main challenge was not to exceed the 65 lbs/cf dead load throughout the majority of the space. In addition, the depth of the extensive planter beds could not exceed 6-8”, yet had to allow for layers of waterproofing and drainage and proper cultural requirements of the sedums.

We collaborated with the architect on the layout of the courtyard. We were the sole designers for the courtyard planting with input from the green roof provider and structural engineer. We worked extensively with the green roof provider, architect, and owner so that all parties understood drainage, winter precipitation, and maintenance issues.

This project is a notable example of green roof design in the Boston area. The beds of extensive vegetation provide a dynamic groundplane as well as thermal protection to the garage area below and absorb considerable stormwater. Upon opening, this residence hall became the most sought after housing on Harvard’s campus.

Project Resources

Landscape Contractor:
Foye & Letendre Landscaping

Environmental Engineer:
Pine and Swallow Associates, Inc.

Structural Engineer:
Weidlinger Associates Inc

 

General Contractor:
Bond Brothers, Inc.

Groundcover Plant Supplier:
Emory Knolls Farms, Inc.

Green Roof System:
American Hydrotech, Inc.

 

This photograph showing the final installation of the roof garden courtyard looking towards the east from the point of view of an upper level unit. (Photo: Steve Lee)

This photograph shows the final installation of the roof garden courtyard looking west down the main path with the stairways leading up to the third level apartments in the foreground and the stair leading down to Garden Street beyond. (Photo: Steve Lee)

This photograph shows a detail look at the green roof plantings in an early establishment phase in the extensive bed of the roof garden courtyard. (Photo: Steve Lee)

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