Located in Central Square, The Holmes Building is a new construction mixed-use urban development at a prominent intersection in Cambridge, MA. Located at the corners of Massachusetts Avenue, Magazine and Green Streets, The Holmes Building was the subject of lively public debate from concept to completion. The corner directly in front of the new development is known as the Carl Baron Plaza, and for years has been a popular site for public gatherings and political rallies.

Further project challenges included the density of the site itself, which is the same size as the building footprint, and the level of transportation activity around it. The site is surrounded by two main streets, two bus stops and an MBTA subway line.

The design is a mixed-use a six-story, C-shaped structure, with the inner piece of the building kept to just two stories to allow for maximum light to reach the plaza. An historically significant cast iron and granite façade from a previous building was carefully restored and incorporated into the facade of the new building to maintain a sense of the site's history. In addition, the Carl Baron Plaza was preserved and continues to serve as a community meeting place at the heart of a busy urban
intersection.

The development includes one level of underground parking for 80 vehicles, 23,000 square feet of street-level retail space, second floor office space, and 72 upscale apartments on floors three through six.

Photos by Bruce T. Martin