mary k coughlin

As more companies and large institutions have decided to move to Kendall Square, it has become a race of who can develop, design, and construct their buildings the fastest. The need for speed led to different designers and developers building out of sync with one another. This resulted in the Kendall Square we have today: a hodgepodge of new buildings and empty plaza spaces. My plan proposes to build a framework for existing and future construction, specifically on the current twelve-acre Volpe Department of Transportation site. My masterplan addresses the need for physical connections between three distinct hubs of Kendall Square: the T stop along Main Street, the Waterfront, and the Loughrey Walkway and Bike Path. These “connections” will be made through an intimate open space/greenway network. This network will enhance walkability for the area’s workers and residents, while it’s smaller scale will promote a more intentional personal experience for the public.  

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Final Project

"Urban Design for Planners"

Harvard Graduate School of Design

May 2020