As permanent supportive housing for formerly unhoused individuals, the project provides 62 studio apartments, common spaces for socializing and gathering, and access to different outdoor spaces all tucked into a dense residential neighborhood of Cambridge, MA. With on-site wraparound services, Dan’s Place offers residents dignity, stability, and the support needed to transition out of homelessness.

The development of Dan’s Place included the renewal of a historic 1907 building and its conversion from SROs into studio apartments, and a 25,000-sf addition that further expands the number of affordable housing units on the property while fitting comfortably within its neighborhood. It is the first project completed under the city’s Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) zoning ordinance.

Thoughtfully sited and designed to maximize outdoor space and retain the existing large trees, the expanded facility offers residents access to a south-facing courtyard with different seating areas, a large, shared porch, and deck. A serpentine path brings residents and visitors through the courtyard to the glass, light-filled entry which links the renovated building with the addition. The project enhances the streetscape and its urban site with built-in benches along the perimeter of the property and mosaics by David Fichter, a local artist, that reflect the history of the neighborhood and its people.

The project is on track to receive Enterprise for Green Communities certification and offers residents a comfortable, healthy living environment full of daylight.

Rising fourth grade students who will be the first to occupy the new middle high school when it opens in the fall of 2027 shared what the new school means to them:

“A new school means new experiences. We are looking forward to classrooms with new furniture and big windows to let the sunlight in. It would be fun to play in the new gym with brand new P.E. equipment. We are excited to have new opportunities in music, art, technology, and maybe even robotics. We hope the new art room has space to hang lots of artwork and paintings and the new library will have lots of new books. Lastly, we are looking forward to indoor and outdoor learning space, and the change to maybe even eating outside. We feel so proud to have a new school soon. Middletown must think we’re really special.”

This significant achievement reflects the school’s high standards for efficiency, resiliency, and environmental health as one of the first projects to open under the Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools initiative.

In a time where construction costs continue to rise, IRA tax credits can help municipalities get faster paybacks for sustainable systems they desire. Below are examples of general tax credit highlights:

Typical of tax-related regulations, there are number of variables that determine the potential value of the tax credits. The math is based on accruing percentage levels based on meeting various criteria. The percentages are applied to both the soft (design) and hard (construction) costs. The base tax credits starts at 6% of the eligible costs and this number can rise to as much as 70%. Most projects will end up close to a 30% tax credit, but if domestically produced content criteria are met that could increase it to 40%, and if the community meets certain income criteria, that could increase it to 50%. If funds to pay for the work are sourced from tax-exempt bonds, there will be a 15% “haircut” or reduction of the tax credit to reflect that original savings in financing costs.

The process for tax credits typically runs in parallel with the design phase associated with a project’s schedule. While the timeline for every new building or new system is driven by unique requirements, it is important to remember that no credits will be paid until the clean energy systems are installed and in service and the final tax documents are filed.

Despite the opportunities for substantial tax credits, some municipalities simply may not have the up-front resources to take advantage of them. This does not mean they need be shut out of cost-saving opportunities related to investing in clean energy systems. Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) allow municipalities to partner with companies who manage the design, construction, and operation of these systems end-to-end in collaboration with the design team. The contracted company offering the PPA then takes the tax credit for itself and sells energy (or an agreed to dollar value savings) directly to the municipality, often selling any excess energy generated by the building on the open market. It’s a profit generator for the PPA company and helps communities who may have early cash-flow challenges keep energy costs low. The true benefit of the IRA is that non-profits and municipalities can now take advantage of the full potential savings – both for installation and operation of these energy efficient systems.

HMFH can help guide communities through a process to determine appropriate systems and mitigate financial risk for building owners wishing to design more climate resilient schools with a reduced carbon footprint and lowered, long-term energy costs.

One focal point of the school’s environment- and community-focused design is the new rooftop green space. HMFH’s design transformed the high-rise school’s rooftop into an outdoor learning oasis, complete with a STEM classroom, native plantings, walking paths, and seating areas. Located near two highways on just one acre of land, JQUS’s site in a dense, urban environment initially presented challenges. However, the rooftop brings new life to Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood, which has the lowest green space per capita in the City. The benefits of this landscaped roof will not only positively impact the student body but the entire neighborhood community who can also experience health and climate benefits. Specifically, the green roof will help reduce urban heat-island effect and stormwater runoff, increase biodiversity, and mitigate air pollution from the highway.

HMFH’s nature-focused design extends beyond the rooftop. Inside the school, south-facing classrooms with expansive windows deliver ample daylight to students, while an innovative HVAC system draws in filtered air to ensure a healthy interior environment with optimal air quality in all classrooms.

Notably, the all-electric, zero-carbon middle high school will be a resource for the greater community as well as its student body, allowing public access to community-oriented shared spaces on the first and second floors, including the cafeteria, media center, black box theater, auditorium, and gymnasium.

Designing middle high schools creates the opportunity for districts to share essential spaces, thereby eliminating the duplication of facilities such as:

• Kitchens
• Gymnasiums, alternative physical education spaces, fitness rooms, outdoor sports fields and tracks
• Theaters and auditoriums
• Music spaces including chorus and band rooms
• Media centers or libraries

If these facilities were built separately, each school would need its own, leading to higher construction and operational costs. Additionally, by combining the schools, expensive but often infrequently used spaces such as theaters or auditoriums can achieve cost effectiveness simply by increasing utilization rates. In these cases, middle school students also benefit from having access to sophisticated performance and assembly spaces not typically available in standalone middle school buildings.