Marlborough Hills

Atlantic Management engaged with SMMA to attain guidance regarding the potential of a real estate opportunity in Marlborough, MA. They challenged the firm to envision a plan for a new mixed-use development by transforming an underutilized and outdated office park, with an emphasis on designing sustainably and for economic viability.

The first step in the process was to create a mixed-use overlay district to increase the site’s development potential. From there, the team was able to shift gears and focus on master planning efforts. SMMA led the site design and permitting of the new commercial spaces while simultaneously providing coordination expertise for the residential, hotel, and retail projects.

To accommodate the project’s scope, the master plan anticipated the redevelopment of existing buildings and potential sale of land for new development. Understanding that redevelopment would be tenant-driven, SMMA’s design emphasizes flexibility; development envelopes and tenant spaces share common access and infrastructure but function independently.

The master plan approved by the Marlborough City Council comprised 980,000 square feet of commercial offices, 30,000 square feet of retail space, a 350-unit residential development, and a 140-key hotel, and incorporated shared parking and a trail system linked to the City’s Open Space and Recreation Plan.

The project required review from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). SMMA contributed to the Expanded Environmental Notification Form (ENF) and an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) waiver. A critical component in preparing the Expanded ENF and EIR waiver was completing a stationary-source greenhouse gas (GHG) analysis to demonstrate compliance with MEPA Greenhouse Gas Policy and Protocol. The team utilized energy modeling as a means of estimating potential savings from various building energy-efficiency measures and resulting emissions reductions.

The site was designed to offer an abundance of options.

AvalonBay Communities commenced construction of the residential development in early Spring 2014. Minneapolis-based CSM Corporation retained SMMA’s Site Design Group to design and permit the hotel development—a Hilton Garden Inn—for which construction began in Summer 2014. The team continued to work with Atlantic Management to develop the retail portion of the master plan.

SMMA led the design of the GE Healthcare Life Sciences new Northeast headquarters, located at Marlborough Hills. The 180,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility includes labs, manufacturing space, and corporate offices.

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