The Laurent at 55 Wheeler

The three-building complex brings 525 apartments, green space, and 100 affordable units to the site of a former corporate campus site. It is the first project to meet Cambridge’s new 20% inclusionary zoning rules. The design opens the site by connecting two streets providing for a pedestrian path thru the block, bicycle lanes, and a neighborhood park with landing space for a future pedestrian bridge to Alewife Subway Station.

The buildings are organized around three courtyards facing south, west, and east. The buildings are expressed as cousins, related but with unique attributes so it appears as part of the city and not a project. Building one draws its clapboard expression from adjacent projects and time-honored materials. The brick base hints at the 5 over 2 construction type, all above an underground garage. Buildings 2 and 3 also express the construction type but use the concrete frame for the first two floors recessed below a staggered corrugated skin, further articulated by the color of the inner and outer layers. The public side is copper colored and articulated with wood accents and balconies. The courtyard elevations are a crisp white to reflect the different light of each facade. It is further accented with patinated copper panels and balconies.

The street level of all buildings is activated with direct entry units and fenced private outdoor space as well as building entrances and views into courtyards. All the parking is below grade and the building is designed to target LEED Gold.