CambridgeSeven led the transformation of a retired industrial building in East Cambridge into a modern community destination. 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 reflects 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, a culinary lab, and leasable offices space whose 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. 

The Foundry connects to its neighborhood through a shared street that welcomes pedestrians and cyclists and a new linear park called the “Yard” that provides shade, seating, and bike storage. This all-electric building with LEED Gold certification serves as a prime example of effective building reuse that preserves resources and urban heritage.