315 on A

Project Details

Project Description

Architecture and design firm ADD Inc, now with Stantec, energizes Boston’s emerging Fort Point Channel neighborhood, also known as the Innovation District, with the area’s first apartment tower, 315 on A.

Situated amongst commercial warehouses dating back to the early 1900’s, the design for 315 on A artfully complements the scale and detailing of nearby brick and beam buildings.

“Following the developer Gerding Edlen’s philosophies of ‘People, Planet, Prosperity’ and ‘20-Minute Living,’ we designed an energy-efficient residential building that will bring both life and vitality to the emerging Fort Point Channel neighborhood, and make it an even more exciting place to work, play and, now, live,” stated James Gray, AIA, Senior Principal of ADD Inc, now with Stantec.

The 20-story, 202-unit tower consists of studios, one and two-bedroom apartments. The 257,000 square foot residential complex features a roof deck and fitness center with panoramic views of Boston’s Financial and Seaport Districts. The ground floor common room includes a fireplace, live/work conference space, sixty-one bike parking spaces and artwork from local Fort Point Channel artists.

The design team’s exterior and interior schemes for 315 on A capture the character of the historic Fort Point Channel in a relevant and contemporary way. Inspired by the colors and textures of nearby warehouse buildings, the design team used oranges, grays, and wood tones to weave the building into its context.

For the building’s skin, designers made innovative use of precast concrete panels that are similar in texture and hue to neighboring brick buildings. In addition, the team integrated a 22.8 kWh array of Building Integrated Photovoltaic Panels(BIPV) into the building’s façade along the roofline, instead of setting them on the roof. This design decision makes a bold statement about the building’s identity and the developer’s values.

On the interior, natural materials including terrazzo floors, wood, steel and exposed concrete introduce varied textures to create visual and tactile interest and to recall the neighborhood’s industrial heritage. The wood floor in the lobby was milled from beams that were salvaged from the original warehouse on the site.

Recently awarded LEED Gold certification, 315 on A has many sustainable qualities such as energy efficient appliances, non-toxic finishes for better indoor air quality, locally sourced high-recycled content materials, and a savings of 1.5 gallons of water with every flush. The building also performs 27% better than the required energy code. At the time of its opening in January, 315 on A was the largest project to-date to use the “Nest” Thermostat system which learns a tenant’s schedule program and can be controlled from a mobile device. The combined annual energy savings of the building is enough to power 126 homes, remove 38 cars from the road and save 3,812,000 gallons of water.

About ADD Inc, now with Stantec:
ADD Inc, an award-winning architecture, interior design, planning and branding firm with offices in Boston and Miami, has joined Stantec’s Buildings Group, a team of more than 2,500 design and allied professionals working in over 90 offices across North America. This evolution of ADD Inc gives our talented designers access to Stantec’s world-class resources and multi-disciplinary expertise, which will enhance the design creativity and capability we bring to projects and position our team to work in locations worldwide. ADD Inc’s strong reputation for design excellence and our deep expertise in multi-family housing, workplace interiors, commercial/mixed-use buildings, college and university projects, hospitality and branding enhance Stantec’s existing capabilities in the Northeast and Gulf Coast. Through this partnership, we can go anywhere to support our clients’ dynamic needs in even more creative, collaborative, and personalized ways. www.addinc.com


About Stantec:
We’re active members of the communities we serve. That’s why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind. The Stantec community unites more than 14,000 employees working in over 230 locations. Our work—professional consulting in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics—begins at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. With a long-term commitment to the people and places we serve, Stantec has the unique ability to connect to projects on a personal level and advance the quality of life in communities across the globe. www.stantec.com