design – MFDS

CLT & Mass Timber Passive House Multifamily

A CLT & Mass Timber Passive House Multifamily Development.

We’re excited to announce that we are in development of a 7-story CLT and mass timber multifamily in Boston! In collaboration with Boston RealBosto Estate Collaborative, D2 Development, Haycon, H+O Structural Engineering, Code Red Consultants, and Passive to Positive – the project at 11 E Lenox will utilize a rapidly emerging sustainable structural system and integrate efficient energy and enclosure systems in pursuit of Passive House Certification.

Some key facts and benefits of the design and various building systems:

– A carbon sequestering structural system composed of 5-ply CLT panel floors & glulam columns and beams

– Generous 8′-8″ ceiling heights while staying below high-rise classification with 7 floors under 70ft

– Prefabrication of floors, structure, and stairs project for a 2 month schedule savings

– No structural steel, no fireproofing, no podium

– Energy efficient enclosure assemblies and HVAC systems

The project will be a future case study as a market-rate low-carbon Passive House multifamily development in urban areas. The project is currently undergoing zoning, state building code, and BPDA approvals – stay tuned for more updates!

Project page:
https://www.mfds-bos.com/project/11-e-lenox/

3 years ago

Custom Rainscreen Cladding System R&D

A custom rainscreen system designed by MFDS.

MFDS has been busy with R&D on unique façade cladding system designs. For One Newcomb Place, currently in construction, we designed a custom application of NeaCera Terra-cotta Rainscreens working closely with Avenere Cladding, the manufacturer. After touring their factory in Germany and meeting with their team, we took the base NeaCera Cascade configuration that used single height stacks and reformatted the vertical support profile to accept different height panels to create a unique variated product. The terra cotta is currently onsite and waiting to be installed, see the images below to see our process of research, design, and development of a custom system configuration.

A vignette of the cascade system on a corner One Newcomb. The overlapping panels are expressed in the mitered corner, with shadows raking across the panels to provide depth at a granular scale.

The project was originally conceived as a fiber cement clad design as a cost effective solution, but MFDS researched various terra cotta manufacturers and systems to find Avenere Cladding, who offered a promising product and system that was cost competitive and far more visually appealing and robust.

MFDS visited the manufacturer’s factory and clay mine in Germany.

When visiting the factory, we saw the potential of the cascade system configuration and its streamlined kit-of-parts. The team at Avenere were willing partners in exploring a custom support profile pattern – and given the variability of the system and the ease in which Avenere was able to implement it, the system may be offered as a product going forward as a configuration option.

A terra cotta panel rolling out of the autoclave.

Avenere’s excellent quality control meant very tight finish tolerances that provide crisp lines in the finished façade – which was critical in our new design that utilized varied panel heights that would have slightly different clearances and overlap from panel to panel.

Elevation comparison of a standard cascade system and our custom variated panel configuration.

Our custom design allows different height panels to stack and overlap to create a seamless pattern that repeats at every floor using standard panels height and without cutting any down to fit. The standard system using uniform heights would have had to have custom cuts or would not have registered with floor lines.

A custom kit-of-parts system for One Newcomb Place.

The base system offered is comprised of three pieces: the panel, the support profile, and the joint insert. We customized the support profile to accept varying panel heights, relying on the manufacturer’s tight finish tolerances to make the overlap tolerances work given the different panel heights have slight changes in overlap angles and clearances.

A simple change in modifying the support profile allows the system to still be cost effective while providing a substantial aesthetic impact with the varied panel heights. Designing the panel variation to repeat at every floor also allowed the support profiles to be manufactured in a single piece, furthering the ease of installation in an already minimal single wall support system.

Exterior rendering. The varied panel heights add to the scale and depth of the façade, while the registration at every floor line creates a measured composition of larger repeating visual elements.

The materials are on site, waiting for install in the coming weeks.

3 years ago

Coliving adaptive reuse sneakpeek

We’re excited to reveal a bit of what we’ve been working on for the past year – a mixed-use coliving community within a reimagined adaptive use development! We’ve been acutely aware of the changing demographics and lifestyles in urban environments, and are excited to develop a design solution to respond to and help shape these shifts. The project is currently in community outreach and development, stay tuned for more updates. Scroll below for a sneakpeek into some colive units and overall design progress.

3 years ago

50 & 100 Boatswain’s Construction Complete

50 & 100 Boatswain’s Way Construction Complete!

The interior renovations at 50 & 100 Boatswain’s Way in Chelsea, MA are complete! These lobbies are a shining example of how a few thoughtful design statements can completely transform a space, even when working within a tight budget.

For this project we used ceiling details, flooring patterns, and new furniture layouts to create a sense of scale and definition. Paired with fresh paint and updated light fixtures, these spaces are not only brighter and more inviting, but offer more functionality for the residents as well.

50 Boatswain’s Way

100 Boatswain’s Way

3 years ago

A Mass Timber & CLT Development

New project sneak peek!

We’re designing a CLT mass timber building! Too early to announce anything yet, but stay tuned as we explore and develop a novel and sustainable building typology.

4 years ago

New East Boston Residential Project

A new 9-unit multifamily in East Boston!

MFDS is working on a ground-up new multifamily residential project which blends into the urban fabric by taking many contextual elements from the surrounding neighborhood. This 4 story project includes many outdoor decks, 7 parking spots, and a generous rear yard for all tenants.

4 years ago

ABX 2019

Our projects were featured at ABX!

We were excited to have our projects selected for display at ABX 2019 – Boston’s annual architectural tradeshow. We were also pleased to make some new connections with a potential vendor in our ongoing mass timber/CLT research, stay tuned for more updates on our efforts to implement this novel sustainable building system into a new project!

4 years ago

Construction Begins on One Newcomb Place

Excavation has begun!

We’re looking forward to seeing the innovative terracotta shiplap cladding add a contemporary and complementary presence to the area. You can find more info about the project here.

4 years ago

Monomoy Residence Photoshoot Scouting

We did some scouting for an upcoming photoshoot!

The house is complete with some furniture on its way, while the landscape is nicely growing in. We’re excited with the results, as is our client – we can’t wait for our photographer to properly document and capture the project. Many thanks to Haycon, they built an exceptional home.