Nestled in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, the 32-story Clarendon tower recently received a range of streetscape and pedestrian-area improvements, highlighted by new sidewalk gardens and rooftop terraces, with enough plantings and sustainable amenities to earn LEED Silver status.

Located at the corner of Clarendon Street and St. James Avenue in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, The Clarendon is a 32-story luxury residential tower containing 280 condominium and rental units, ground-level retail, and below-grade parking. The building is located across from the John Hancock Tower and near Trinity Church, a highly visible area.

The building is set back from the property line along Clarendon Street, aligning with the Old John Hancock Building, creating a sidewalk garden. Above the building's limestone base, the building sets back on the north and east sides to create elevated green spaces. Working with the project architects, Copley Wolff Design Group designed streetscape improvements and pedestrian amenities along Clarendon Street and Stuart Street.

Copley Wolff Design Group designed the four rooftop terraces and green roof plantings for the Clarendon. The ipe decking and privacy walls, installed on the rooftop terraces by Century Drywall, are a sustainable, low-maintenance element that accent the plantings and are accented by landscape lighting at night.

Entryways & Streetscape
The entries to the condominium residences, shops, a restaurant, a United States Post Office, and the rental apartments are welcoming and clearly defined with granite paving and raised granite planters. The planters are lined with a formal boxwood hedge and accented by seasonal rotations of a variety of attractive annuals and perennial displays.

Pennsylvania sedge, ice plant and John Creech sedum are among the plantings shown here in one of the roof gardens, which are supported by a built-in-place green roof system 6- to 8-inches deep. The annual plantings keep the space alive during the winter, and seasonal plantings are sourced from two Massachusetts nurseries nearby to keep the gardens fresh.

Streetscape site improvements include the addition of hardy Princeton American elm trees; granite paving at the building entries and sidewalk edge; new concrete sidewalks; and bicycle racks. Street trees are planted in structural soil trenches. Large volumes of soil were used, allowing the tree roots to grow freely beneath the walks without causing heaving or cracking in the concrete surface.

Green Roof & Gathering Space
The Clarendon is a green building and is LEED Silver certified. As a part of this effort, Copley Wolff Design Group designed four roof terraces that include private spaces for individual residences as well as public gathering areas for the entire building.

Purpletop verbena and barren strawberry populate the Ipe planter boxes (above) that delineate the pathways and seating spaces. Marshall Roofing installed the green roof system and precast planter curbs across the rooftop terraces, which are filled with silver mound wormwood, Elijah blue fescue and ornamental grasses.

These spaces combine a rich and colorful low-maintenance plant palette with amenities like sustainable ipe hardwood decking and privacy walls, accent lighting, and stainless steel cooking stations. Outdoor rooms are filled with comfortable furnishings that provide spaces to congregate with family and friends.

Wood deck chairs, dining tables and couches (Kingsley Bate) with cushions and umbrellas (Sunbrella) blend with the ipe decking and planter boxes to give the rooftop a natural and organic feel. Stainless steel cooking stations were also added for residents to use.

The colorful 6th-floor sun terrace planting contrasts against the ipe decking and screen walls. Planting consists of a variety of sedums, perennials, and ornamental grasses. Every season was carefully planned – evergreen sedums and low grasses keep winter interest while providing changing colors and textures throughout the spring, summer, and fall.

Project Team
Architect of Record:

Princeton American elm trees were planted on the street in structural soil trenches with large amounts of soil, allowing the roots to grow freely and deeply without damaging the sidewalks. New concrete walkways meet granite paving at the building entries and sidewalk's edge, and new bicycle racks were also installed.

Vendor List
Accent Lighting:
Bega/US
Carpinteria, CA
Concrete Pavers:
Roofblok Limited
Gardner, MA
General Contractor:
Bovis Lendlease
Framingham, MA
Green Roof System:
American Hydrotech, Inc.
Chicago, IL
Ipe Decking:
Century Drywall, Inc.
Quincy, MA
Nurseries:
Select Horticulture
Lancaster, MA
Cavicchio Greenhouses Inc.
Sudbury, MA