The Boston Society of Architects (BSA) has selected Olmsted Hill Residences designed by CBT Architects, Inc., for recognition in the 2013 John M. Clancy Award for Socially Responsible Housing. Olmsted Hill, completed in 2012, is recognized for excellence in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of socially responsible housing.
The Clancy Award for Socially Responsible Housing was established in 2004 by the principals of Boston architecture firm Goody Clancy. The intent of the award is to recognize and honor the decades of creative commitment John Clancy FAIA brought to the planning, design, and construction of multifamily housing for diverse populations at all income levels. Projects eligible for the award include residencies - completed and occupied since 2002 - that are multifamily in nature and provide for low- or moderate-income residents as a major portion of the project.
As a sub-division of the Fisher Hill Estate, Olmsted Hill was named after the neighborhood's original designer, Frederick Law Olmsted. CBT Architects worked with Brookline's New Atlantic Development to bring over 24 affordable housing units to the site of a former reservoir. The Olmsted Hill Residences are developed on a site surrounded by gracious single-family homes, a luxury condominium development, and a college campus. The 24 affordable housing units were planned as three buildings intending to appear as an estate, consisting of a Main House, a Guest House, and a Gate House.
Designed to seamlessly fit into the historic neighborhood, Olmsted Hill utilizes elements characteristic of its surrounding buildings. CBT incorporated pitched shingle roofs, clapboard and shingle siding, porches, and dormer windows to fit the development into an area of expensive homes while still adhering to the project's modest budget.
"We are honored to be recognized by the BSA for the John M. Clancy Award for Socially Responsible Housing," said Ellen Perko, associate principal at CBT. "Our goal was to offer affordable and sustainable family housing while seamlessly integrating the development into a neighborhood comprised of historic private residences." By creatively making use of the site's underground reservoir for parking, CBT reduced both the cost of extensive fill and the need for on-grade parking and increased availability for open space.
The three award levels offered by the BSA for Socially Responsible Housing are Honor Level, Award Level and Citation Level. The level of award that Olmsted Hill has received is undisclosed and will be announced at the BSA's Annual Award Gala on January 30, 2014 at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston.