Boston, Massachusetts

245 Residential Units

Emerald Court is a residential complex in the St. Vincent neighborhood of South Boston, consisting of 245 one, two and three bedroom condominium units, an enclosed parking garage for approximately 318 cars and approximately 3,672 square feet of on-grade retail space.  The complex comprises the entire block between C and D Streets and West First and West Second Streets. 

The building is configured at the perimeter of the block to create a landscaped “green roof” courtyard in the open central portion that will be nearly one half acre in size.  A two level parking structure is located beneath the housing and the courtyard, with one half level below ground and the second level at grade.  Therefore, the courtyard is one story above ground.  The garage does not extend all the way to the property line on West Second Street, allowing the residential frontage to meet the sidewalk and give the feeling of four story townhouses along the street. 

The units in this section are designed as duplexes with private entrances off the sidewalk.  The third and fourth stories are composed of flats that are accessed by a central double loaded corridor.  The façades on West Second Street will vary in fenestration and cornice line, and, in addition variations in the setback will give the character of separate smaller buildings along a street as opposed to a single large building.

The massing transitions on C Street and D Street as you approach West First Street, in that the building steps up and becomes a five story building on top of the on-grade parking structure.  This change breaks down the overall massing of the project and creates the feeling of separate buildings embracing a courtyard.  The architectural grammar also transitions at this point, and the expression becomes simpler as it faces the industrial flats across West First Street.

Parking garage vehicular access and egress are on West First Street, a two-way street, and a service entrance will also be located near the parking garage entrance.  The retail area will be located on the corner of D Street and West First Street.  This commercial space combined with the individual residential entrances will activate the sidewalk, enliven street life, and improve neighborhood security.

Building materials for the project include brick of varying shades and pre-cast concrete decorative elements, aluminum and glass storefronts and window units.  Limited use of natural stone is also planned in select locations.