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A Milestone for Dorchester’s Future
Dorchester’s Morrissey Boulevard just reached an inflection point. With the Boston Planning & Development Agency’s approval of Phase I of the 35–75 Morrissey Boulevard master plan, the team—Copper Mill with POB Capital, CBT, and H+O Structural Engineering—has moved from entitlement into active design.
Phase I centers on two residential towers framing a new neighborhood park, prioritizing housing, public realm, and climate resilience near JFK/UMass.
From Master Plan to Momentum
The 2023 master plan envisioned a mixed-use district across seven buildings. In response to market need, the team pivoted decisively toward housing for Phase I, proposing:
- 754 apartments (with 20% income-restricted units),
- Ground-floor civic/retail space, and
- A ~23,900 SF public park.
With BPDA approval secured, design coordination is now in full swing—aligning urban design, structural systems, building performance, and resident experience.
Design Underway: Resilience as a First Principle
Morrissey Boulevard’s waterfront location demands climate-smart design. CBT is leading a strategy that raises the site by five feet and integrates flood-resilient ground-floor elements such as deployable barriers and elevated thresholds. These measures ensure the towers remain active and accessible at the street level, while protecting the development against long-term climate risks.
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Housing + Mobility + Open Space
Phase I weaves together housing supply, mobility infrastructure, and high-quality open space. Plans include:
- Underground garage with 414 spaces (25% EV-ready),
- 760 bike storage spaces, and
- New roadways connecting into Morrissey Boulevard and improving access around JFK/UMass station.
Community-First Programming
At ground level, 7,450 square feet of civic space for nonprofits and locally-oriented retail ensure the project is an extension of Dorchester, not an enclave.
Copper Mill’s local roots and CBT’s urban design sensibility shape these choices, while H+O’s Boston-based team provides structural solutions that preserve generous ground-level volumes and protect long-term flexibility.
What’s Next
With BPDA approval in place, the design team is moving forward with the detailed design and coordination phase. CBT, a nationally recognized architectural firm, brings expertise in resilient urban design to this master plan.
As the structural engineering partner, H+O is focused on solutions balancing design vision with cost efficiency, constructability, and long-term value for ownership.
If you’re a CRE developer or architect working on large-scale, mixed-use multifamily developments, contact H+O for cost-informed structural design to de-risk your project.
Stay tuned for more updates as we progress through system selection and design development.
