Top Boston Buildings Investing in Technology and Resident Experience 02/06/20
The latest construction boom has resulted in the creation of multiple new technologies that have brought a new level of convenience to urban living. From robotic furniture, to communal spaces and programming, to internet that is faster than ever before, technology has made urban living more attractive and created a number of new buildings that cater to a unique new live, work and play lifestyle without ever having to leave home. Below is a selection of Boston-area new-construction residential buildings that have made significant investments in technology and resident experience:
Cambridge - Cambridgeport
Located in the heart of Cambridgeport steps from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Kendall Square, Chroma features 96 luxurious apartment residences with an array of on-site amenities, including a state-of-the-art gym, an exclusive Club Chroma lounge, a Think Space coworking area and a communal roof deck with spectacular views of Boston and Cambridge. One of Chroma's most advanced amenities is Starry Internet, an innovative high-speed wireless internet service that gives residents 200 Mbps service and a touch-screen WiFi router to monitor speeds, control connected devices and more. With a walkable location convenient to the MBTA Red Line and Kendall Square, Chroma is perfectly suited to accommodate the modern lifestyle worker.
Above: Chroma’s Club Lounge.
Below: Starry Internet’s state-of-the-art home WiFi hub. With a touchscreen that lets users see their speeds, access settings and more, it’s one of the many advanced technologies being used to improve residents’ in-home experience.
Boston - Seaport District
Watermark Seaport is at the forefront of entrepreneurial living, featuring 346 luxury apartment residences including 44 innovation units with exclusive access to a productivity-oriented innovation lab. The building is LEED Gold sustainability-certified, and also features a Sky Deck and a second-floor terrace with grills and an outdoor fire pit.
Watermark Seaport is the first Boston-area building to feature Ori Systems robotic furniture, which unfolds and transforms a room from one living space into another, maximizing the potential of tight, dense urban space and making smaller apartments feel substantially larger. With a name derived from origami, the Japanese art of folding paper into often-multifunctional figures, Ori Systems’ furniture can allow a resident to use a compact apartment as workspace by day, and sleeping quarters by night.
Above: Common space at Watermark Seaport.
Below: Ori Systems robotic furniture.
Cambridge - Kendall Square
Set to open this Summer, the 22-story, 280-unit Proto apartment tower, one of Cambridge’s tallest buildings, is located in the heart of Kendall Square, one of the United States’ hottest neighborhoods for science and technology innovation home to multiple leading companies and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Proto will feature multiple high-tech amenities, including Butterfly cloud-based intercom systems, Ori Systems robotic furniture and Luxor automated package management. The tower will also include spaces such as a rooftop terrace, workspace and a video gaming area. Proto will be located steps from the MBTA Red Line and multiple shops, restaurants and centers of employment.
Above: Common space at Proto.
Boston - South End
7INK by Ollie will be Boston’s first major co-living development. Standing 14 stories tall with 245 shared suites and micro-studios, 7INK by Ollie will emphasize communal living, with multiple shared amenity spaces, connected workspaces and unique community engagements. Residences will be equipped with transformable furniture similar to Ori Systems’ product, and receive complimentary weekly cleaning. 7INK by Ollie residents will be located in the heart of the Ink Block neighborhood, steps from conveniences including a Whole Foods supermarket, fitness studios, retail stores and a variety of bars and restaurants.
Above: Amenity space at 7INK by Ollie.
Boston - Bulfinch Triangle
Located steps from North Station in booming Bulfinch Triangle, The Beverly is a newly opened 14-story apartment building featuring 239 affordable and workforce apartment residences, the first such housing option in the Downtown Boston area in over a quarter century. The Beverly uniquely offers top-quality, new-construction finishes and conveniences at an affordable price, with amenities including 24-hour concierge service, two lounges, a top-floor roof deck with views out to the Boston Harbor islands, a fitness center, a children’s playroom and a dog spa. The Beverly is going a long way towards allowing young, developing professionals and entrepreneurs to live in Boston affordably, offering high-speed Starry Internet connectivity throughout. In addition to residences, The Beverly also houses a 220-room Courtyard Marriott hotel and 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.
Above: The Beverly’s top-floor lounge and roof deck.
Boston - Seaport District
The City of Boston’s largest mixed-use development in over 30 years, The Benjamin & VIA features two distinct luxury apartment buildings with 832 combined residences, along with 250,000 square feet of exclusive retail across both buildings’ first three levels. The Benjamin & VIA are both LEED Silver sustainability certified, and offer the latest technological amenities including Hello Alfred personal concierge service, Butterfly cloud-based video intercom and fitness amenities with virtual programming. Both buildings feature common, connected workspace and outdoor terraces; The Benjamin even features an outdoor pool deck overlooking Fort Point Channel. At residents’ doorsteps are an array of dining, entertainment and retail options, including the Scorpion Bar and Grand nightclubs, ICON movie theatre, Seaport Barbers, Kings Bowl and multiple shops, restaurants and coffee shops.
Above: Common workspace at VIA.
Boston - Brighton
Located on scenic Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton between Boston College and Boston University, Nova Residences features 85 new-construction luxury apartment residences, with sweeping views of the Boston skyline and lifestyle amenities such as manicured outdoor spaces, a fitness center and indoor common rooms. High-speed Starry Internet is available throughout Nova Residences, allowing for easy, fast connectivity and a live, work and play experience.
Above: Common space at Nova Residences.
Contributor Bio
Starry is a radical, new internet service – made for the future and beamed wirelessly through the air. By using advanced millimeter wave technology they’re able to leapfrog outdated internet infrastructure and deliver brilliantly fast, gigabit-capable internet, at a fraction of the cost. For building owners and managers, this means hassle-free setup at zero cost to the property. For residents, it’s simply a faster, better way to get online. That’s what they call Happy Interneting. And it’s live in Boston.
Give your residents internet they’ll brag about. Contact Starry today.
