At Armenian Heritage Park in Boston, a single jet of water, and the symbol of eternity, mark the center of the labryinth. The fountain is on an axis with another fountain in the rose garden at nearby Christopher Columbus Park, providing an important visual connection. The words "Art," "Service," "Science," and "Commerce" are etched around its circle in tribute to the accomplishments and contributions immigrants have made to American life and culture. The fountain design and equipment is by Georgia Fountain Co.
Photo: Peter Vanderwarker

One of the jewels of the Rose Kennedy Greenway"?uthe public park corridor above Boston's notorious Big Dig tunnel effort"?uArmenian Heritage Park is a gift from the Armenian-American community to the city of Boston. The park was completed in 2012.

As early as 2000, the Armenian Heritage Foundation of Boston coordinated with city and state officials to review potential site opportunities for a public park to celebrate Armenian culture and the immigrant experience. Ultimately, Parcel 13, a half-acre "leftover" along the Greenway was selected. In a rather unusual arrangement, the foundation established a long-term lease with the state to develop this parcel as a public park, agreeing to privately fund it, but publicly build on state-owned land.

The 12-faced (dodecahedron) abstract sculpture of steel and aluminum by A&A Industries is split mounted on a reflecting pool, and illuminated by surface-mounted underwater LED accent lights (C-Splash 2 by Color Kinetics). The colors and color cycles that illuminate the sculpture are programed via a laptop port in the electrical cabinet. Each March, a crane separates the two halves of the dodecahedron, and the sculpture is reconfigured into a different geometric patterns. This symbolizes the diversity of immigrants and how they must reshape their lives when coming to new shores. The inscription in the fountain base is lit by in-ground LED accent uplights (B-K Lighting). The inscription reads: "Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have offered hope and refuge for immigrants seeking to begin new lives. This park is a gift to the people of the Commonwealth and the city of Boston from the Armenian-American community of Massachusetts. This sculpture is offered in honor of the one and one-half million victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. May it stand in remembrance of all genocides that have followed, and celebrate the diversity of the communities that have reformed in the safety of these shores."
Photo: Peter Vanderwarker

Design Philosophy
Stantec's landscape architecture team designed the park in collaboration with partner Tellalian Associates Architects and Planners. The philosophy for that design centered around three chief goals: 1) integrate a stimulating yet contemplative open space for children and adults into its urban context between two highly travelled tourist destinations, Faneuil Hall (a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1742), and the waterfront; 2) pay homage to the history of Boston as a port of entry for immigrants worldwide, contributing to the richness of American life and culture; and 3) commemorate the 1.5 million Armenians killed in the Armenian genocide.

The park's pole lighting is Boston's old standard "acorn'-style luminaires, two of which were relocated to better light the park. Boston has been retrofitting the sodium lamps in its "cobra'-style streetlight luminaires with LEDs. At the end of 2012, the Boston Street Lighting Division reported conversion of over 40 percent of those streetlights.
Photo: Peter Vanderwarker

Editor's note: The Armenian genocide began in April 1915 when the Ottoman government began arresting Armenian leaders in Constantinople, then began deportation, forced labor and killing of the ethnic Armenian population in present day Turkey. Large-scale killings of Greek and Assyrian minorities also occurred.

The Armenian Heritage Foundation worked with the city to find a spot within Boston's dense urban matrix for a park to commemorate the 1915-era Armenian genocide. The half-acre Parcel 13 along the Rose Kennedy Greenway fit the bill. The foundation privately funded the park. This view looks west to the Boston Financial District (tall buildings), Quincy Market and historic Faneuil Hall (lower brick buildings immediately kitty corner) and the entrance to the Big Dig Tunnel (right). Merchant Peter Faneuil had Faneuil Hall built in 1742 as a public market house. It was rebuilt in 1762 after fired destroyed it. Pyramidal European hornbeam trees create a screen for the lower border of the park.
Photo: Peter Vanderwarker

Sculpture and Labyrinth
The park centers on two main features surrounded by integrated seating, brick paving and landscape. An abstract sculpture, a split dodecahedron shape, i.e., having 12 faces, is mounted on a raised reflecting pool and intended to represent the immigrant experience. Annually, the two halves are reconfigured, symbolic of all who pulled away from their country of origin and "reassembled themselves" on Massachusetts' shores. A labyrinth, a circular winding path paved in granite and set in the lawn, celebrates life's journey. An ancient symbol in many cultures, labyrinths were adapted in the Middle Ages as a Christian expression of the pilgrimage one makes to the Kingdom of Heaven. Following the concentric circles toward the center, a "pilgrim" finds a solitary, convoluted, quiet path to contemplate the journey through the divine universe. Following the circles back returns the pilgrim to the outside world. A single jet of water and the symbol of eternity mark its center. The words "Art," "Service," "Science," and "Commerce" are etched around its circle in tribute to the accomplishments and contributions immigrants have made to American life and culture.

"Blue Muffin' viburnum, inkberry, Black-Eye Susan and dwarf fountain grass create a transitional landscape in a leftover parcel of land on the Rose Kennedy Greenway adjacent to Armenian Heritage Park.
Photo: Stantec

Lighting
To add dramatic effect and continue to draw visitors to the park at night, the design team developed a detailed lighting scheme for the park as an integrated part of the design, contributing to a setting that is subtle and alluring. Photo simulations helped in designing the ground-level lighting. Lumascape LED pathlights around the labyrinth project just the right effect"?ua quiet and spiritual glow. Sistemalux recessed wall-mounted step lights were placed strategically in the site walls to provide lighting for the paths at the perimeter of the labyrinth and sculpture fountain. The water jet at the center of the labyrinth has an integrated uplight to provide a dramatic evening effect. Surface-mounted underwater LED accent lights (C-Splash 2 by Color Kinetics) illuminate the sculpture. These lights are programmable via a laptop port in the electrical cabinet, providing opportunities to change colors and color cycles when lighting the sculpture. The inscription in the fountain base is lit by in-ground LED accent uplights by B-K Lighting. The lighting effects for the park have been one of the most successful aspects of the park design.

On the street edge facing Quincy Market are red maples and dwarf fountain grasses in decorative granite planters. The pavers are "Medium Ironspot 46' (Endicott Clay Products).
Photo: Stantec

Project Challenges
A key challenge in reaching the project's goals was the site's urban setting, which is nestled in the center of a busy corridor in the heart of Boston. The park needed to provide a sense of calm and respite from the surrounding hubbub. The promenade at Wharf District Park to the south served as an organizing element along the west side of the park and is terminated visually with the sculpture and a specimen elm tree. Next, the fountain jet at the center of the labyrinth is on axis with the fountain at the rose garden at nearby Christopher Columbus Park, providing an important visual connection. The design also weaves the pedestrian network in the area into the park. To further shelter the park from its hectic surroundings, the design team used raised planting beds at the perimeter, dense planting, and site walls placed in strategic locations to create a mini oasis for visitors to relax, reflect, and recharge. The planting scheme is designed to provide shade, buffer the park from the adjacent roadways, and provide seasonal interest. The refined, respectful, and deceptively simple design of the park also posed a design challenge. While the park is elegant in its simplicity, its execution was extremely complicated. Fountain vaults and piping, utilities and foundations were constructed on a very tight site, with virtually no staging areas, over shallow tunnel roofs, while still maintaining pedestrian circulation in the heart of the city.

Finally, the unique public land/private funding arrangement of the project's development made for an atypical process. The design team was able to foster a collaborative culture with the various stakeholders – from the Armenian Foundation of Boston, to the architect, to state agencies – that resulted in a striking addition to the city's urban landscape. Stantec's landscape architects took the original design concept then led the design review and approval effort, building consensus with all stakeholders. They also led the documentation phases of the project, coordinating supporting disciplines and producing documentation in conformance with state requirements. The architect was responsible for the sculpture fabrication and anchoring detailing while the landscape architects led the design of all other park components and construction administration and review responsibilities.

The labyrinth is constructed from native New England granite. The turf has a special sand-based foundation designed specifically to reduce compaction and hold up to the tough urban environment.
Photo: Peter Vanderwarker

Project Team
Armenian Heritage Park, Boston
Landscape Architect: Stantec
Architect/Artist: Tellalian Associates Architects and Planners
Civil Engineer: Stantec
Electrical Engineer: Stantec
Structural Engineer: Simpson Gumpertz and Heger
General Contractor: Barletta Heavy Division
Landscape Contractor: D Schumacher Landscape
Lighting Designer: D Schweppe
Fountain Designer: Georgia Fountain
Irrigation Designer: Irrigation Consulting
Sculpture Fabricator: A&A Industries