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Dutch practice Mecanoo has completed its first US project, the $123.9m Bruce C. Bolling municipal, which is expected to rejuvenate the downtrodden Dudley Square in Boston’s Roxbury district.
The 16,700sq m building provides office space for 500 civil servants from the Boston Public Schools department, as well as a community centre and retail units. The second floor will house the Roxbury innovation centre.
A new structure stitches together three historic facades, which have been restored. Practice founder Francine Houben describes it as “a play on the Bostonian way with a Dutch touch”.
A contemporary interpretation of classical layering, the brickwork combines a number of complex masonry techniques and their reflective properties reflect light in various ways depending on weather conditions. The elements of relief cast intricate shadows, creating a lively rhythm across the facade.
The new six-storey rooftop terrace is open to employees and public alike, offering broad vistas across the city.
