Winners of the Boston Living with Water competition

The Boston Harbor Association, City of Boston, Boston Redevelopment Authority, and Boston Society of Architects teamed up to create the Boston Living with Water competition, in response to predictions that Boston will experience up to 5-6 feet of saltwater flooding by the year 2100. Planners and designers worldwide were invited to develop design solutions that could strengthen Boston's resiliency.

Read on for more.

Fifty teams composed of more than 340 individuals from eight countries participated in the two-stage competition. For Phase I, three finalists were selected for each of the three competition sites. The nine finalists each received $1,000 and developed their proposals to compete in Phase II. At the end of Phase II, the jury selected one prize winner per site.

• Site 1: Building – The Prince Building WINNER: “Prince Building Piers” led by Stephanie Goldberg AIA & Mark Reed AIA, Boston
• Site 2: Neighborhood – The 100 Acres section of Fort Point Channel WINNER: “ReDeBOSTON 2100” led by Architerra, Boston
• Site 3: Infrastructure – Morrissey Boulevard WINNER: “Total Resilient Approach”  led by Thetis S.p.A., Venice

Additionally, an Honorable Mention was awarded to "Resilient Linkages" by the team led by locally based NBBJ.

The three winners each received $13,000 while the Honorable Mention winner received $5,000.

Find out more about each winning proposal below.

SITE 1 WINNER - “Prince Building Piers” led by Stephanie Goldberg AIA & Mark Reed AIA, Boston

Project summary: "Rather than trying to prevent seawater from entering the city, this proposal welcomes the water and repurposes the outer streetscapes to a new urban seashore that is a focus of recreation, ecological reclamation, and new cultural experiences." - Full project info.

Site 2 WINNER: “ReDeBOSTON 2100” led by Architerra, Boston

Project summary: "This proposal would raise the entire base and infrastructure of the 100 - acre neighborhood by approximately twelve feet, matching the raised elevation of historic Summer Street and creating a resilient development area to serve as a model urban waterfront district for the 21st and 22nd centuries." - Full project info.

Site 3 WINNER: “Total Resilient Approach” led by Thetis S.p.A., Venice

Project summary: "This proposal considers the transportation infrastructure as a flexible element aimed at performing a wide range of resilient functions. Raising Morrissey Boulevard and improving its connections to the adjacent neighborhood present an opportunity to redevelop Columbia Point through an overall strategy based on habitat restoration and sustainable urban landscaping." - Full project info.

All images courtesy Boston Living with Water competition.