AIA 2015 Small Project Awards – The Lawn on D Boston

The Lawn on D is a short-term urban space designed by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authoriry (MCCA) together with the design team led by Sasaki. The urban project in Boston is one of the recipients of the 2015 AIA Small Projects Award.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced the winners of the 2015 Small Project Awards. This is the award's sixteenth year and it strives to raise public awareness of the value and design excellence of projects, no matter the limits of size and scope. 



One of the seven projects - all completely different, including short-term installations and single-family homes - is “The Lawn on D” in Boston. The Massachusetts Convention Center Authoriry (MCCA) came up with concept for this urban project together with the design team led by Sasaki Associates (and including HR&A, Inc.) as the initial introduction to the planned expansion of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC). 
An important role due to its strategic location between South Boston, the Innovation District and Liberty Wharf and the Fort Point and Channel Center neighbourhoods. The Sasaki-led design of The Lawn on D demonstrates and pilots this new district, which aspires to be interactive, flexible and technologically advanced - a hub of activities for the community.



The project itself is composed of two parts - the plaza and the lawn. The plaza's paths blaze trails of light to the side entrance of the BCEC, and the lawn hosts a range of shorter-term art installations and projects: a platform that seeks dialogue with its environment to favour integration of the major expansion project in the city of Boston.
We totally agree with the jury's comments emphasising how simple interventions such as colour, furniture and lighting completely transformed the site into one that engages the community and is alive.

Christiane Bürklein

Landscape Architect: Sasaki Associates
Urban Design: Sasaki Associates, Utile, Inc.
Programming: HR&A Advisors
Programming: Zaragunda
Contractor: IW Harding
Civil Engineer: Tetra Tech
Electrical Engineer: Cosentini
Location: Boston, USA
Year: 2014
Photo Credit © Christian Phillips – courtesy of AIA