Dorchester Bay City, one of Boston’s largest ever commercial developments, received final approval from the City of Boston’s Planning & Development Agency on September 14. Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, began developing the master plan for the 36-acre project in 2019.

The $5 billion project is situated on and adjacent to the former Bayside Expo Center. The new development has 6.1 million square feet designated for office, research and development, residential, and potentially academic uses. Plans call for nearly 2,000 residential units—20 percent of which would be set aside as affordable—and 15.4 acres of public open space.

“When we embarked on the master plan for Dorchester Bay City, our team was determined to turn this asphalt parking lot into a unique waterfront destination,” said Tamara Roy, design principal at Stantec. “Our master plan offers a blueprint for a vibrant, resilient neighborhood but will also give architects of future buildings the freedom and flexibility to create a richly textured pedestrian experience.”

Resiliency and sustainability from the ground up The site and buildings are proactively designed to withstand the impacts of climate change. The site’s ground level will be raised approximately three feet to mitigate projected sea level rise and help protect the peninsula. Approximately 1,000 new trees will be planted to provide shade and reduce the heat island effect, and 9 of the 15.4 acres of open space will capture on-site stormwater. The site will include 3.7 miles of raised bike lanes and 4,500 bicycle parking spaces.

The master plan outlines building sustainability strategies through high-performance envelopes, sun shading, efficient window-to-wall ratios, recycled materials, and solar energy or green roofs. All residential buildings will target LEED Gold, while 25 percent of commercial buildings will target LEED Platinum. Passive House standards will also be incorporated throughout.

The project is led by real estate development firm Accordia Partners and the team includes OLIN for landscape architecture and VHB for resiliency engineering. Groundbreaking is anticipated by summer 2024, pending further approvals from state agencies.

Stantec brings decades of experience supporting a range of markets in the Greater Boston area. Across the region, the multidisciplinary team plans and designs public infrastructure, landscapes, urban spaces, buildings, and interiors for a range of community needs and experiences. Recently completed and ongoing projects include The BEAT, the Northland Newton Development, Nubian Square Ascends, the Boston Marathon Memorial, and the Poplar Street Pump Station Project.