Revitalizing Union Square: A Transit-Orientated Transformation

Additional fee, registration required.

How do you seamlessly integrate 3.8 million square feet into the heart of New England’s densest city? This tour of Union Square Revitalization (USQ) explores how a 20-acre, non-contiguous masterplan is reshaping Somerville through a public-private partnership rooted in community collaboration. Designed to foster an innovation hub while preserving Union Square’s historic character, USQ prioritizes affordability, sustainability, and connectivity. Tour highlights include a masterplan overview, insights into the community engagement process, and visits to the first completed live-work projects—Prospect Union Square, 10 Prospect, and Station Plaza.

Learning Objectives

1. Discover how a mix of commercial, residential, and public spaces transforms Union Square into a fully connected, mixed-use neighborhood.
2. Analyze how high-quality architecture and landscape can create a landmark innovation hub in an already vibrant urban core.
3. Explore how a dispersed masterplan strategy of 18 parcels integrates new development with Union Square’s historic streetscape.
4. Examine resilient design choices, including material selection, green spaces, and pedestrian pathways, that enhance sustainability, community, and social well-being.

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