Berkshire Group and Boston Global Investors Announce the Groundbreaking of One Seaport Square

CONSTRUCTION WIRE

BOSTON--Berkshire Group, WS Development and Boston Global Investors today announced the groundbreaking of One Seaport Square, a three-acre mixed-use development located within the 23-acre Seaport Square, the largest master planned project in the City of Boston.

Upon completion, expected in 2017, the development is planned to include two residential towers, constructed above 250,000 square feet of retail space across the towers’ first three floors. Named The Benjamin and VIA, each residential tower will have a distinct personality providing a wide range of living options. Calling one of Boston’s newest neighborhoods home, The Benjamin and VIA will both offer views of the city’s skyline and harbor, extensive indoor and outdoor amenities, and modern interiors and technology. Berkshire Group has partnered with Boston Global Investors (BGI) to own and develop the residential component of Seaport Square. WS Development will develop, own and manage the retail component of Seaport Square. One Seaport Square is bordered by Seaport Boulevard, Northern Avenue, Fan Pier Boulevard, and Sleeper Street.

Berkshire Group Partner and Head of Development, Steve Wood commented, “We are proud to begin construction on Seaport Square with BGI and WS Development. In our view, the Seaport District is an important growth area in Boston with its emphasis on residential, retail and commercial space all in one neighborhood. With companies moving into the area and creating new employment opportunities, we expect Seaport Square will attract residents who desire urban living in the Seaport District in close proximity to both professional and entertainment options.”

BGI CEO and Managing Partner John Hynes added, “One Seaport Square will be our largest project in Boston and within Seaport Square. It will set the tone for just how dynamic this new neighborhood will be in all categories: commercial, residential, shopping, dining and entertainment. We cannot wait to bring it to life and feel very fortunate to be partnered with Berkshire Group and WS Development on this development.”

The Benjamin and VIA will offer distinct residential experiences to appeal to diverse audiences. Both buildings are designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, also based in Boston, and are being built for LEED Silver Certification. All apartments in The Benjamin and VIA are for lease only, with the intention of giving residents the freedom of flexible, mobile lifestyles. “With their glass structures, they are a new generation of modern architecture in the City of Boston. The retail floor architecture is lively, diverse modern and glassy so as to engage pedestrians and mirror the energy of food and retail. The residences are also very open and modern; their architecture connects them to the harbor and to the city,” said David Manfredi, Founding Principal of Elkus Manfredi Architects.

Plans for One Seaport Square include a total of 832 units with 354 distinctive apartment homes in The Benjamin, ranging from studios to three bedrooms, and 458 modern apartment homes in VIA, ranging from studios to innovation units to three bedrooms. To create a socially expansive and diverse community, One Seaport Square will include 96 units that meet the City Of Boston’s standards for affordable rent. VIA also includes 96 innovation units, which will be cost-effective studio and one-bedroom apartments with creative design configurations and access to collaboration space for socializing and strategizing.

The project also includes plans for Courthouse Square, a 17,000 square foot, retail-lined open space between the two towers that will serve as a pedestrian link between the buildings, the MBTA Courthouse Station and the Moakley Federal Courthouse.