Tasked with transforming a long-abandoned MBTA substation in Roxbury’s Egleston Square, our mission was to revitalize this historic structure into a vibrant, high-tech community television studio. The project aimed to serve as a cultural anchor for the neighborhood while achieving LEED certification — balancing heritage preservation with sustainable, forward-thinking design.

Approach

We took a sensitive, multi-layered approach that treated the building’s history as a foundational asset. Our design strategy included:

• Historic Preservation: Restoring the original brick, stucco, wrought iron, and copper window treatments in strict accordance with National Park Service guidelines.
• Architectural Harmony: Preserving the raw industrial character — including exposed steel and original roof decking — while introducing modern glass walls and expansive light wells to foster an open, collaborative environment.
• Sustainable Innovation: Implementing deep-green solutions, including two geothermal wells. This eliminated the need for obtrusive mechanical equipment and significantly reduced the building’s carbon footprint.
• LEED Silver Achievement: Utilizing energy-efficient systems and materials to ensure long-term operational efficiency, ultimately resulting in a LEED Silver certification and securing historic tax credits.

Associate Architect in collaboration with Scott Payette Architects.