Cambridge, MA A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the opening of Temple Place, a six-story apartment complex that will provide 40 units of much needed affordable housing to Cambridge residents. Nauset Construction completed the project for the owner Cambridge Housing Authority, utilizing the design of HMFH Architects to achieve Enterprise Green Community certification.

The ceremony was attended by U.S. congressman Michael Capuano, undersecretary for the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay, city of Cambridge officials (including mayor E. Denise Simmons and Gregory Russ, executive director of the Cambridge Housing Authority), representatives from Nauset and HMFH Architects, as well as other political, financial and development partners.

Temple Place - Cambridge, MA

Located in Central Sq. with access to the MBTA bus lines and the Red Line, the $11 million project transformed the site of the former YWCA swimming pool into 15 one-bedroom and 25 two-bedroom apartments for low income families and individuals. Several of the units were designed specifically to provide universal access for residents with mobility, visual or hearing impairments. The building was also designed and constructed in compliance with the Enterprise Green Communities Program to maximize energy-efficiency. Sustainability measures included abundant daylighting, bamboo flooring, energy efficient window systems, energy and water conservation equipment, and building materials manufactured from recycled and sustainable content.

Constructed in a densely settled urban neighborhood, the project presented a variety of challenges for Nauset, including assuring the safety of the neighbors while minimizing disruptions to the building’s abutters, the bustling YWCA facility. “We had to tightly manage site logistics and other construction activities throughout the process so as to not interfere with the ability of the YWCA and its neighbors to function properly,” said Nauset president Anthony Papantonis. “Our vast experience working in dense urban settings as well as building sustainable projects served us well on this transit-oriented development.”

The residential portion of the building sits atop a street level parking garage that provides 18 automobile parking spaces, 24 spaces for bike parking, a common laundry room, a property management office, utility rooms, maintenance storage space, and lobby area.

The exterior of the building is visually striking with its contrasting pattern of colors made up of easily maintained fiber-cement siding. The landscaping provides an almost seamless connection to the adjacent YWCA Cambridge building with pathways that lead residents and their visitors to an entrance that features a pineapple etching on the glass doorways.

Cambridge Housing Authority is nationally recognized for its innovative approach to creating and promoting affordable housing in one of the nation’s most competitive real estate markets. With an annual budget of over $65 million and a staff of 160, CHA’s portfolio includes over 2600 federally and state funded public housing units, over 2500 Section 8 vouchers and 380 units of nonprofit affordable housing.

Nauset Construction is a construction management and design-build firm run by industry veterans with a shared goal of providing an unparalleled positive client experience. Nauset excels at complex projects on challenging sites with aggressive time and budget requirements - often in sensitive, occupied and operational environments. Proactive decisions are made based on years of proven experience while orchestrating project-team cooperation and collaboration to inherent unforeseen challenges. Taking a collaborative approach throughout the project cycle, Nauset provides creative ideas and alternative methods that reduce cost and increase value to its clients, while creating lasting relationships. 

Since 1969, HMFH Architects has been designing for communities on a local, regional and national level. With its distinguished range of award-winning work from renovated urban buildings to new rural campuses, HMFH is recognized as a leader in the design of innovative community, academic and socially responsible environments. HMFH’s work, noted for its user-centered design, energetic use of color and form, and environmental responsibility, has been exhibited and published nationally.