RICHARD BURCK ASSOCIATES
Broad Street Reconstruction Boston , Massachusetts
MERIT AWARD / BSLA
Design — Streetscape
Broad Street was the first of 12 downtown streets identified in the Boston Greenways District Crossroads Initiative for redevelopment , realignment , and revitalization . With the dismantling and burying of the Central Artery , direct connections between the city and the harbor became possible and were encouraged on a dozen cross-streets , beginning with Broad Street . Significant historical buildings and view corridors were highlighted through careful arrangement of new public benches and street tree plantings .
Key to the project ’ s sustainable success was the custom design and implementation of ‘ drain bricks ’. Conventional permeable-pavement often has limited effectiveness over time , as the system becomes clogged and requires intense maintenance . The drain brick system allows water to penetrate the sidewalk surface , while the fines and small litter are collected in a container that is easily cleaned and maintained .
This comprehensive system is designed to support fire trucks just as well as it carries stormwater loads , and it will provide a safe , level paving surface for pedestrians .
Photos | Rick Mandlkorn
Boston Society of Landscape Architects Fieldbook
139