Multi Residential

A&M Designs Appeal to Tenants

Outdoor patio/café area at The Center at Innovation Drive

Tewksbury, MA – Allen & Major Associates, Inc. (A&M) provided landscape architectural design services for The Center at Innovation Drive (CID) in Tewksbury. The former home of Wang Laboratories and most recently 495 Business Center, the property has undergone a $35 million renovation and rebranding.

The property offers in-demand office and flex space in four connected buildings with onsite amenities. CID is currently pursuing LEED certification.

The aesthetic appeal was enhanced with the introduction of approximately $300,000 in new plant material and irrigation as part of an overall visual and operational upgrade of the entire site. A wide landscaped median, heavily planted with a mix of evergreen, deciduous, and flowering trees and shrubs, partially obscures a National Grid high-tension power line that traverses the property, and creates a more focused experience for the user.

Transition zones between the various buildings and associated parking areas were also heavily planted to provide both a visual separation and provide lush green spaces that were otherwise lacking prior to construction.

The outdoor patio/café area was designed as an extension of the interior cafeteria and is a favorite spot for the tenants. The inclusion of fieldstone retaining walls, granite landings, and large caliper trees help to keep the space cool and provide softness to the modern façade. A large earthen landform, heavily planted with mature evergreen trees, was incorporated between the patio and the facility loading area, making the loading area imperceptible to those enjoying the exterior spaces.