As Berklee’s first new construction building in its history, the Roger H. Brown, Jr. Building is a 16-story, 176,000 sf mixed-use high-rise. The iconic building was the 2023 winner of the Harleston Parker Medal, awarded by the Boston Society of Architects to recognize “the most beautiful piece of architecture, building, monument, or structure built in the metropolitan Boston area within the past 10 years.” The building houses 370 students, a 400-seat dining hall that doubles as a performance space, and 14,000 sf of state-of-the-art music technology and production studio spaces. Street-level retail and restaurant space adds to the building’s energy and character.
The mixed-use program required specialized designs for MEP/FP systems. The music studio and dining hall/performance spaces include provisions for responsive temperature and humidity control, stringent acoustics, flexible lighting and lighting controls, and integration of multiple technology platforms. Sustainable design approaches include ventilation energy recovery, demand-based ventilation, daylight harvesting, premium efficient lighting and controls, and water conserving plumbing fixtures. MEP and life-safety systems were designed for high-rise requirements, with life safety system designs coordinated with the Boston Fire Department.
Recognition
LEED Gold Certified
AIA, Specialized Housing Award
AIA CAE, Education Facility Design Excellence Award
AIA CAE/SCUP, Excellence in Architecture for New Building Merit Award
BSA, Harleston Parker Jury Award
Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award
Dave Pensado Educator Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement for Studio Design Project
ENR, Best High Education/Research Project in New England
NAMM, Technical Excellence & Creativity Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement for Studio Design Project
Services
Mechanical
Electrical
Plumbing
Fire Protection
Technology
Metrics
176,000 sf
Architect
William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc.
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