129 Portland
BOSTON, MA
Project Overview
Studio Luz was engaged for pre-schematic design services to support Joseph J. Corcoran Company in assessing the potential conversion of the existing building at 129 Portland Street from office to residential use. The goal of the test fit effort was to determine feasibility and explore plan layout options and distribution of rentable units that support the City of Boston’s Office to Residential Conversion Program, aligning with city and country-wide shifts in housing and office space demand.
Project Team
Hansy Better Barraza
Taylor Tocci
Sarah Pumphrey
Client
Joseph J. Corcoran Company
ADAPTIVE REUSE
Sustainability Goals
office to residential conversion
rethink office shells to support housing
Our client, Joseph J. Corcoran Company is seeking to revitalize rapidly emptying office shells to support the growing need for housing in Boston. This effort is supported by the City of Boston in their effort to help owners and developers of older commercial office building space to convert to residential units. Studio Luz collaborated with JJC, to explore these possibilities at 129 Portland Street.
INCLUSIONARY ZONING
Affordable housing
This project supports the Boston Planning Department and Mayor’s Office of Housing’s promotion of diverse housing types at various scales across Boston, to activate vacant buildings. Studio Luz brings our expertise in affordable housing and adaptive reuse of Boston’s older buildings together to conceptualize how offices can become affordable, enjoyable living spaces.
about 129 portland street
in boston
The existing building at 129 Portland St, Boston, MA is a 6-story structure at the corner of Portland St and Valenti Way in Boston’s West End neighborhood. The building shares a wall with an adjacent building, and is currently used as office space, with separate tenants occupying various floors. The main entrance off Valenti Way currently gives access to the elevator, and there are two additional entrances off Portland St, one of which provides access to an interior egress stair. The second means of egress is an exterior fire escape stair at the back of the property, currently an open parking lot at the corner of Valenti Way and Friend St. The parking lot is not included in the parcel boundaries.
By encouraging the adaptive reuse of existing office buildings, the project is helping to improve sustainability while creating a more vibrant urban core. This project was one of Studio Luz’ first office to residential conversions, taken on to help revitalize Boston’s Downtown, in support of City-supported missions of providing affordable housing and minimizing vacant spaces. Given our expertise in housing, Studio Luz was excited to collaborate with JJC to help define the next generation of housing in the city. Through this plan, new mixed-income, multifamily residential rental units can be created downtown, including much needed affordable rental units.