With NBBJ’s help, the Massachusetts Port Authority converted its under-utilized landholdings into a financial windfall and a thriving new mixed-use neighborhood.

The Seaport District Master Plan is a strategic plan and urban design for 300 acres owned by Massport in South Boston’s Commonwealth Flats. The study investigated real estate options for maritime, industrial, and mixed-use development over 20 years.

Design concepts included conceptual parcel design and feasibility analysis, architectural guidelines for development parcels, streetscape design, and open-space planning. Subsequently, detailed investigation included schematic design for a 2.5-acre park, the design of new light fixtures and signage standards, and enhancements to federally-funded streets and highway bridges.

From 1998 to 2003, NBBJ was the primary review consultant for ongoing development proposals and Massport-sponsored capital improvements in the district. To date, Massport has succeeded in attracting over a million square feet of office and hotel development. Additionally, it has proceeded with the design of a 2.5-acre district park and a promenade connecting the Boston Exhibition and Convention Center to the World Trade Center and new waterfront development. With the waterfront parcels almost entirely built out, the district is well on its way to becoming a an integral part of downtown Boston.