The Davis Companies Cambridge, MA

101 Smith Place

101 Smith is a 215,000 SF lab ready building in Cambridge, MA and is part of the growing life science campus referred to as the The Quad. The landscape design intent was to create a simple yet elegant composition of lawn, shade trees and low groundcover plantings that act as a foreground to the building. Lush plantings of native trees, shrubs and perennials help to anchor the 3-story building to the site while reducing maintenance and water demands. A series of outdoor rooms and amenity spaces enrich the work experience by providing opportunities for gathering, discussions, and recreation.

To meet the City of Cambridge’s Flood Resilience Standards, the floor elevation was raised 3-feet above grade presenting a challenge for the streetscape and public realms. The design team used this challenge as an opportunity to facilitate pedestrian, bicycle, and transit connections across the site while also anticipating the future street grid.

In collaboration with Jacobs, VHB