In the master planning of the site, the main goal was to create a sustainable community. The way that this is accomplished is by incorporating the ideals of the International Conservation Rescue Service Building, and applying those same goals to the entire master plan. By using community gardens, the community and the ICRS begin to have a dialogue between each other, and start to serve each other as well. One can go to the ICRS and learn about native plants, how those plants create natural habitats and ecosystems, and then can take what they learn out to the greenhouses and the community gardens, and then when they leave, they can take that knowledge out of Lexington.
The path system is derived by looking at a typical college campus and applying it to the site. The important parts of buildings, whether they be entries, or an architectural feature are all connected with an overlay of different paths. Large trees line the main paths that cross over Massachusetts Avenue, and begin to show a hierarchy of paths. The paths that lead off of the center of the site continue to other important parts of the town, whether it be a building or feature now, or one that will be created in the future.
Massachusetts Avenue was also reconfigured to create a green corridor. Trees would line both the North and South sides of the street, and also be placed in the center, which would divide the two lanes of traffic. With the use of the trees, Mass Ave becomes subjected to less wind, and a more desirable location for pedestrians, especially along the store fronts of the new buildings. Bike lanes are also incorporated so that alternative transportation is encouraged, and the town of Lexington becomes less dependent on automobile use.
© 2020 Jeff Porter