loose ends

loose ends

comprehensive design studio

program

era
location
mission

adaptive reuse - performing arts - plaza & marketplace - makerspace - exhibition
spring 2024
upham’s corner, boston, ma

throughout its existence, the strand theater and its upkeep have had a direct connection with broader socioeconomic trends in boston and across the country. it has served as a symbol reflecting the privilege of investing in culture, and how much a community physically and emotionally can afford to maintain a space meant for enjoyment and not only economy. the passage of time is felt within the theater through its dilapidation, but also through its resilience. at the moment, the strand is anchored in time, reflective of past success and futilely trying to return. as the neighborhood pushes into the future, the strand must commit to it as well.

through the subtraction of the back parking lot, the strand becomes completely level with the streetfront of columbia road, creating a sheltered plaza space directly off of the thoroughfare. this excavation leaves an elevation change between the ground floor of the plaza and the neighboring residential zone, providing both a buffer in program and a relief.

the new glassy facade with sliding doors provides a direct connection to the plaza, allowing indoor and outdoor space to permeate each other, and for art to be projected onto the facade. users can experience the beautiful interior of the theater and the art taking place within without attending a show or even entering the building. similar connections are cut into the backs of the existing adjacent commercial building, allowing restaurants to have access to seating in the plaza, as well as creating room for a new test kitchen and makerspace in the vacant spaces. all of these programmatic expansions are connected through the plaza and the elevated pavilion space, which guides the user around the new commons and connects to the existing strand through an interior catwalk, creating layers of interaction.