MFDS Recipient of Two 2023 BSA Design Awards
Congratulations to 11. E Lenox & New Madinah teams for achieving MFDS first awards!
Roundtable Discussion on Mass Timber Collaboration
It was a pleasure to do a roundtable discussion on BIM, mass timber, and collaboration with Eli Gould from the Quebec Wood Export Bureau and Jean-Marc Dubois from Nordic Structures. Check out the ArchDaily post below, which features an upcoming Revit plugin by QWEB for mass timber design and our roundtable video. We discuss our 11 E Lenox project and how a pro-active and open-minded approach from the OAC team was key in developing this mass timber project from its nascence.
We wholeheartedly believe in utilizing the expertise of our team members, as well as from outside parties such as Eli and Jean-Marc – QWEB and Nordic have been great resources and wellsprings of knowledge and guidance.
Much thanks to our team for our past and current collaborations – BREC, Haycon, and H+O.
Link to ArchDaily post.
BIM Collaboration Snippets
Adaptive Reuse Mill Buildings
Adaptive Reuse Mill Buildings
For this adaptive reuse project, a site study of these early 20th century power plant buildings revealed extensive craftsmanship and thoughtful functionality. They once supported bustling textile mills that operated 24 hours a day and employed thousands of workers. We are now working to bring new life into these buildings while maintaining their character and history.
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/
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
26 Centre Begins Construction
A new multifamily housing project at 26 Centre St is underway!
Foundations are set to be poured, we’re looking forward to adding another project to Boston’s much needed housing stock.
