Old Colony

A neighborhood-scale, multi-building, multi-phased project like Old Colony presents massive logistical challenges. Given Old Colony’s history and the critical need it fills for the community, this project faced close scrutiny, and involved painstaking coordination with the City of Boston and state agencies to ensure the availability of Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) approval and funding. The need to work around an existing infrastructure, a school and community center, keeping them occupied and accessible throughout the project further amplified this challenge.

For over a decade Petersen has coordinated closely with the project team on phasing to minimize disruption to residents, to upgrade the steam plant and steam distribution to heat existing buildings while new buildings were under construction. Electrical site coordination has also been intensive under the master plan, requiring close utility coordination to accompany the construction of new city streets.

This project is a prime example of how high-performance mechanical systems have evolved over the past 10 years. Phases 1 and 2 were constructed with similar approaches, Phases 3 and 4 involved Petersen Engineering adapting to new technology to meet the needs of the owners and the tenants. In each case, we worked diligently to balance exceptional ventilation, indoor air quality, durability, and occupant comfort.

Voted Best Urban Project in the nation by Affordable Housing Finance 2012