Serenity
Jamaica Plain, MA
Client
Program
Design of 15-story, 195-unit multifamily residential complex with studio, one-, two-, three-bedroom units and townhouses, with a 100-car underground garage.
Sustainability
LEED Gold for Homes Certified
Challenge
To incorporate a 195-unit multifamily building and a 100-car underground parking garage on a 1 acre site along Boston’s historic Emerald Necklace.
Solution
The steeply sloping site is bounded by the Jamaicaway parklands and the urban streetscape of South Huntington Avenue. PCA’s approach features a 5 story brick podium with modern bay windows that relate to the neighborhood’s historic brick townhouses, and an elegant sculptural metal and glass tower that offers spectacular views of the City and park. The project conceals a 100-car underground parking garage that nestles into the steep hillside.
Along South Huntington Avenue the design enlivens the streetscape with a sidewalk café and convenient neighborhood-scale retail shops. A two-story lobby preserves views of the Jamaicaway, creating a sense of lightness and transparency.
The u-shaped ‘Parti’ frames an interior courtyard providing a landscaped oasis/gathering place for residents and visitors. Level 6 amenities include a sun-deck, swimming pool, fitness center and community function rooms.
PCA worked closely with the BCDC and the BRA’s urban design staff to craft an elegant solution that enabled the project to receive unprecedented community support.
Publications
CityBizList
July 12, 2016
“Mayor Walsh to Join Topping Off of 195 Apartments in Jamaica Plain”
News Release
July 12, 2016
“Serenity, 195 New Apartments in Jamaica Plain, Are Topped Off “
Boston Magazine
March 2016
“Serenity – Exactly What the Doctor Ordered”
Press Release
March 2013
“PCA Designs Multi-Family Housing Along Boston’s Historic Emerald Necklace”
Serenity Drone Video
Credit Longwood Group