Rivermark Featured on America ByDesign

Rivermark has been spotlighted in Season 5, Episode 8 of America ByDesign, the CBS-aired series that champions architectural excellence and the transformative power of design across the country. 

Located along the Charles River in Cambridge, Rivermark is the comprehensive occupied renovation of two 1970s-era apartment towers housing 300 mixed-income units. Completed in 2022 in partnership with our clients at Homeowners Rehab, Inc. (HRI), the project set out to improve energy performance, strengthen community identity, and keep all residents housed throughout 30 months of construction. To achieve this, the team developed a custom overcladding system assembled off-site and lifted into place, allowing the towers to be fully re-enclosed before any existing windows were removed from the interior. 

The episode features Principal-in-Charge Jason Jewhurst, FAIA, and Project Manager Jackie Mignone, alongside our clients at HRI, shining a light on a project that demonstrates how deep investment in existing affordable housing can deliver both environmental performance and lasting community benefit. 

America ByDesign, produced in partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and broadcast on CBS, highlights exceptional architectural work that strengthens communities and demonstrates how thoughtful design shapes everyday life. Having Rivermark featured brings national recognition to the importance of sustainable, community-centered affordable housing, and the power of design to preserve it. 

Watch the full episode on YouTube. Rivermark begins around the 14-minute mark, following remarks by the AIA President on the importance of affordable housing in America. 

Watch Season 5, Episode 8 on YouTube. 

Charles River Speedway Featured on America ByDesign

We’re thrilled to announce that the Charles River Speedway has been spotlighted in Episode 5 of America ByDesign, the CBS-aired series that champions architectural excellence and the transformative power of design across the country.

Originally built in 1899 as the headquarters for a mile-long racetrack along the Charles River, the Speedway complex is a fascinating mix of building types across a 2-acre campus in Boston’s Brighton neighborhood. What was once a bustling community gathering place became an abandoned structure suffering from decay and fire damage before Bruner/Cott, alongside the Architectural Heritage Foundation, breathed new life into this Boston Landmark. The project combines historic preservation and forward-thinking sustainable design to create a vibrant mixed-use destination serving the Allston-Brighton neighborhood.

The episode features cameos from Sean McDonnell and Kara Anderson of AHF, alongside Bruner/Cott architects Christopher Neilson, Henry Moss, and Jason Jewhurst, shining a light on the Koji Club, Garage B, Notch Brewing, and the Speedway’s iconic courtyard.

America ByDesign, produced in partnership with the American Institute of Architects and broadcast on CBS, highlights exceptional architectural work that strengthens communities and demonstrates how thoughtful design can shape everyday life. Having the Speedway featured on the program brings national recognition to the power of adaptive, transformative reuse.

Watch the Full Episode on Youtube!

Pok Oi Residences Certified Passive House by PHIUS

We’re proud to share that Pok Oi Residences has officially achieved PHIUS+ 2018 CORE Certification, recognizing it as a certified passive house building!

Located in Boston’s Chinatown, the six-story, 85-unit affordable housing community shows how sustainable design and social responsibility can work together. Working with the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England and Beacon Communities, Pok Oi sets a new benchmark for energy-efficient multifamily housing in the Northeast. The project meets rigorous performance standards set by the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), ensuring exceptional comfort, air quality, and energy performance.

Key design features include:

  • High-performance envelope: R-28 walls, R-50 roof, and triple-pane windows.

  • Efficient systems: Central energy-recovery ventilation (80% efficiency) and Mitsubishi VRF heating and cooling.

  • Renewable energy: A 32.8 kW rooftop solar array offsets building energy use.

Together, these strategies reduce energy use by more than 70% compared to typical multifamily housing, cutting operational costs while enhancing resident comfort and health.

Learn more about the certification on the PHIUS Certified Project Database →

Wesleyan University Celebrates Dedication of Fries Arts Building

The completion and dedication of the Fries Arts Building at Wesleyan University was officially celebrated on May 24, 2025. This milestone marks a bold new chapter in the university’s long-standing commitment to the arts and stands as a model for the transformative power of adaptive reuse.

Located at 56 Hamlin Street in Middletown, Connecticut, the Fries Arts Building reimagines a historic former factory complex as a vibrant, interdisciplinary arts hub. Through a thoughtful process of transformation and expansion, Bruner/Cott repositioned the existing industrial structures into a dynamic 19,155-square-foot center for creativity, preserving the site’s industrial character while integrating contemporary architectural elements and sustainable design strategies.

The new facility brings together visual and performing arts, maker spaces, and a flexible commons to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and spontaneous interaction. The reconfigured T-shaped complex retains the robust bones of the original buildings while seamlessly integrating a new addition.

Named for Mike Fries ’85—a devoted Wesleyan alumnus and longtime supporter of the university—the building honors his extraordinary commitment to the campus and the arts. As university leadership noted during the dedication ceremony, “Through his financial support and visionary spirit, Mike Fries has once again catalyzed a transformative initiative on campus—the largest expansion of arts facilities at Wesleyan since the creation of the CFA in 1973.”

The Fries Arts Building is more than a facility—it is a catalyst for connection, invention, and expression. Bruner/Cott is honored to have partnered with Wesleyan University to help bring this vision to life through architecture that reclaims the past to shape the future.

Pok Oi Residences Celebrate Official Opening

The Pok Oi Residences, a transformative affordable housing project in Boston’s Chinatown, celebrated its official opening with a ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, May 21st. This milestone embodies a commitment to community, equity, and resilience in one of Boston’s most culturally significant neighborhoods.

Mayor Michelle Wu joined local leaders and community members to mark the opening, calling it “an important milestone in preserving affordability and community in this historic neighborhood.” Located at 288 Harrison Avenue, the development delivers 85 new homes for individuals and families at a range of income levels, including units reserved for people who have experienced homelessness.

We are honored to have worked alongside Beacon Communities, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) of New England, and a host of city and state partners to bring this vision to life. Formerly an underutilized parking lot, the site now serves as a vibrant gateway to Chinatown, balancing the challenges of urban living with the need for comfort, sustainability, and dignity in housing.

The design was deeply informed by environmental research and community feedback. With features that address air quality concerns and reduce noise from nearby highways, the building is design LEED Gold standards and is Passive House certified, underscoring its commitment to long-term sustainability and resident well-being. Every element of the design supports the goal of maintaining Chinatown’s cultural and physical accessibility for generations to come.

We’re grateful to have played a part in this meaningful project!

Living Village Begins Construction

Congratulations to Yale Divinity School on celebrating a significant milestone for the Living Village Project!

On October 11th, our project team joined Yale Divinity School staff, faculty, trustees, and more to signal the official start of construction for the Living Village project with a groundbreaking ceremony. Scheduled for completion in August 2025, the Living Village will be the largest Living Building Challenge (LBC) 4.0 certified residence on a university campus in U.S. history, and the first on an Ivy League campus.

We are thrilled to see this project move forward and eventually inspire those who experience it to deepen their connection with the natural environment.

Visit the project’s official website to learn more.

Two Projects Celebrate Ribbon-Cuttings and Openings

This fall, Bruner/Cott celebrated the official opening of two projects – the Rivermark Towers in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the Aliki Perroti & Seth Frank Lyceum at Amherst College.

On August 30th, our team traveled to Amherst, Massachusetts to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of the Aliki Perroti & Seth Frank Lyceum, a new, 20,000 sf academic facility to house the History Department and Center for Humanistic Inquiry (CHI) at Amherst College. The project combines the reuse of an unused, historic home with carbon-conscious new construction to create a new space on campus for learning, collaboration, and exploring the human condition. The celebration was attended by College President Michael Elliot, as well as significant faculty, staff, and trustees of Amherst College.

On October 4th, we joined our client, Homeowner’s Rehab, Inc., as well as NEI General Contracting, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, Esq. of Cambridge, Deputy Secretary Jennifer Maddox of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, Mark Teden of MassHousing, Rep. Mike Connolly, and Sen. Sal DiDomenico, to celebrate the opening of Rivermark Towers., a 490,000 sf apartment situated along the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The project renovated and revitalized the affordable housing complex with a focus on energy efficiency, occupant health and wellness, equity, and community.

New LEED Certification: Frost Terrace

Frost Terrace has achieved LEED certification!

Frost Terrace, located at 1791 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, was recently certified LEED Gold (v4 – Multifamily Midrise). Part of Frost Terrace’s LEED success is its alignment of sustainable design strategies with principles of affordable housing—lowering utility costs, conserving resources, prioritizing mobility (bikes and transit), and creating healthy living environments for residents. The project includes re-used existing buildings and materials, wood structure and finishes, energy recovery ventilation, efficient electric-driven heat-pump systems, and highly insulated envelopes (new and upgraded).

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Through design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings are helping to make the world more sustainable.

Congratulations to the project team!

Bruner/Cott Completes Frost Terrace in Cambridge, MA

     

New Construction and a Restored 19th Century House Anchor Affordable Housing in Porter Square

Known for residential design in new construction, restoration/renovation, and industrial conversions, Bruner/Cott Architects announces the completion of Frost Terrace, a 100 percent affordable housing apartment community at 1791 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge’s Porter Square. Achieved in partnership with Capstone Communities and Hope Real Estate Enterprises, the complex is in a desirable, transit-oriented neighborhood facing an extreme shortage of such housing. It provides 40 families and individuals with long-term rental options.

Directly adjacent to the firm’s Lesley University Lunder Arts Center on Massachusetts Avenue, Frost Terrace comprises three extant buildings—1 and 2 Frost Terrace, plus a contextual modern addition that balances the overall composition. The William Frost house, built in the late 1800s, was preserved, transformed, and expanded at the rear of the complex to provide additional living quarters. Formerly surrounded by similar houses and the North Avenue Congregational Church (moved to its site from Kirkland Street near Harvard Square in 1867 and is now the Lunder Arts library), the Frost house is the last of its kind on the block, providing continuous historical context.

Designed with light and air in mind, twenty-six of Frost Terrace’s 40 units are generous 2-to-3-bedrooms. Thirteen one-bedroom and one studio unit complete the mix. Reserved for households earning less than 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), with four units reserved for households earning less than 50% of AMI and four units reserved for households earning less than 30% AMI, the complex received over 900 applications during its initial leasing.

A transit-oriented development that prioritizes space for people over motor vehicles on the site, Frost Terrace offers immediate proximity to the MBTA, bike lanes, and essential community services, as well as 44 secure bike parking spaces. Three parking spaces are provided for residents with disabilities.

Sustainable design strategies include LEED Gold certification aspirations for multi-family mid-rise. Environmental interventions include the installation of solar panels, stormwater management, tree preservation, and energy efficient equipment, complemented by landscaping and paving improvements that created accessible community space.

“Rooted in community building, new contextual architecture, and historic preservation, Frost Terrace’s sustainable design aligns with current principles of affordable housing—prioritizing mobility, lowering utility costs, conserving resources, and creating healthy living environments,” says Principal-in-Charge Jason Forney. “Our goal was to respect and renew the venerable aspects of the site and its structures while delivering environmentally responsible housing for today and tomorrow.”

The Frost Terrace project was made possible by an affordable rental housing award announced by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker on July 25, 2018, which provided $57 million in direct subsidies for 19 high-impact projects throughout the state. Additional funding was derived from Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and subsidy funds via the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and funds through the City of Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust.

 

Photos here

Photography Credit: Robert Benson Photography

 

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Notch Brewing Opens at Charles River Speedway

The long-awaited second location of Salem-based Notch Brewing is now open at the Charles River Speedway!

The new taproom occupies a 3,766 sf former horse stable, from when the Speedway was a racing complex. Where possible, elements from around the site were salvaged and integrated into the Notch space. Reclaimed beams and trusses were turned into standing top tables in the bar area, and you can find old horse rings mounted to the bar. Timber from demolition at the Salem location was used to face the bar and repurposed into tables and benches.

Outside, visitors can enjoy a massive 2,000 sf year-round beer garden to drink, gather, and/or distance.

Photos from Notch Brewing official website and @charlesriverspeedway on instagram.