South Boston, MA Copley Wolff Design Group has been selected as part of the design team, led by WinnCompanies, for the $1.6 billion redevelopment of New England’s first public housing complex, Mary Ellen McCormack.

As landscape architect on the 27-acre site, Copley Wolff will focus on producing a site design that integrates with the surrounding neighborhood, providing accessible, walkable streets and welcoming community spaces.

“As a firm whose mission is focused on creating memorable spaces that bring people together, the Copley Wolff team is energized by the opportunity to reimagine the open spaces within the Mary Ellen McCormack site,” said Andrew Arbaugh, project manager at Copley Wolff Design Group. 

The redevelopment plan proposes the creation of a mixed-income community with 200 workforce/middle-income apartments. Through a public feedback process, Copley Wolff will use the community’s input to inform a dynamic design that may include public gathering spaces, gardens, courtyards, roof decks, playgrounds and parks. Copley Wolff hopes to build upon the existing and familiar street patterns of the neighborhood to connect to major and secondary streets, with open spaces woven in to provide pedestrian and bicycle connections to Moakley Park and public transportation.

The redevelopment of Mary Ellen McCormack serves as one of the many examples of Copley Wolff’s extensive expertise in multifamily and streetscape projects. 

Notable examples include Clarendon Hill Housing in Somerville, Lyman Terrace in Holyoke, Hub 25 in Boston; and Jefferson at Malden Center.