776 Summer Street

Block E’s gentle sloping roofline and curved form introduce a distinctive new silhouette to South Boston’s skyline, while the façade draws inspiration from the natural aging of copper shifting from a vibrant green patina at the waterfront to bronze and finally to tarnished penny tones at the neighborhood edge.

As a PHIUS-certified building, Block E is designed to reduce energy consumption by at least 55% compared to the national average of similar building types. The building envelope is designed to optimize thermal performance by following Passive House principles, including high insulation values, airtight construction, and high-performance and optimized glazing ratios, as well as methods to minimize thermal bridging. These strategic measures help decrease heating and cooling loads while enhancing occupant comfort, creating a healthier indoor environment, and improving the building’s resilience to climate events. Additionally, all-electric systems will be implemented to eliminate on-site fossil fuel use and further reduce the operational carbon footprint.

The 1898 Turbine Hall is reborn as both the lobby and a grand ballroom/event space, immersing visitors in the character of the historic structure from the moment they arrive. Its steel trusses, terracotta ceilings, and gantry crane are carefully preserved and celebrated, while new interventions reveal the hidden history of the building, uncovering concealed layers of its industrial past. What was once utilitarian infrastructure is transformed into a civic stage, allowing the public to experience the building’s story in entirely new ways. By coupling this adaptive reuse podium with the high-performance PHIUS tower above, the project becomes a hybrid of preservation and innovation that honors South Boston’s heritage while minimizing embodied carbon.