The Foundry Building is an adaptive reuse project to build a self-sustaining center for creativity and collaboration for the Cambridge community. At the intersection of the Kendall Square Innovation District and the East Cambridge neighborhood, this project will reflect both a progressive attitude and the industrial roots of area. Through a series of neighborhood presentations and charrettes, workshops with local artists and performers, and meetings with City leadership, a program was developed to include 50,000 GSF of woodworking, metalwork, and textiles makerspaces, STEAM classrooms, community meeting rooms, performance and dance spaces, art studios, culinary workshops, and market rate offices space. The ground floor will dedicate 25,000 SF to community and arts spaces. Levels 2 and 3 are set aside for market-rate offices. The office tenants will provide rent to offset the programming costs for the community spaces. The Flexible Performance Space, Dance Studios and Culinary Workshop may also be rented out at reduced rates for private group events. Designed with expectations to meet LEED Gold sustainability requirements, this project will serve as a prime example of effective building reuse.
