Skanska, one of the leading development and construction groups in the world, has signed a contract with Simmons University to develop a new Simmons Living and Learning Center in Boston’s Longwood Medical area. The project will cost $311 million, and it will cover an area of about 398,000 square feet. Skanska will have a 99-year ground leasehold interest on the University’s 5.88-acre property. This site will be used for a Longwood Place Project on the Residential Campus of Simmons University.
The Simmons Living and Learning Center development is part of the University’s three-phased One Simmons project, which aims to consolidate the University’s facilities onto one campus. The new Living and Learning Center will be the third and final phase of the One Simmons project, which took several decades of planning.
The Simmons Living and Learning Center will feature a 1,000-bed student residence, co-working spaces, social areas, office support, a dining area, and a fitness facility. The amenities provided in the fitness facility include a pool, gym, weight room, and rowing tanks. The developers plan to complete the project by September 2026.
Once the Simmons Living and Learning Center is completed, the developers will commence construction on the Longwood Place project. The Boston Zoning Commission has already approved the Longwood Place project, a mixed-use development comprising five buildings, totaling 1.7 million square feet. Sasaki has designed the gateway to the Longwood Medical Area, which will include offices, labs, retail, residences, and 2.6 acres of public open space. The developers will include over 380 units of affordable housing across the five buildings of the Longwood Place project, to be delivered in phases over a period of ten years or more.
In addition, there are plans for 44,000+ square feet of ground-floor retail at the North Boston structures on 305 Brooklyn Ave. The North Boston office and retail-oriented buildings are likely to range from 424,000 square feet to 622,000 square feet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Simmons Living and Learning Center?
The Simmons Living and Learning Center is a new development project located in Boston’s Longwood Medical area. It will be a 398,000-square-foot research center for Simmons University and will include a 1,000-bed student residence, co-working spaces, social areas, office support, a dining area, and a fitness facility.
What is the Longwood Place project?
The Longwood Place project is a mixed-use development comprising five buildings, totaling 1.7 million square feet. Designed by Sasaki, the gateway to the Longwood Medical Area includes offices, labs, retail, residences, and 2.6 acres of public open space.
When will the Simmons Living and Learning Center be completed?
The developers plan to complete the project by September 2026.
How many units of affordable housing will be included in the Longwood Place project?
The developers plan to include over 380 units of affordable housing across the five buildings of the Longwood Place project, to be delivered in phases over a period of ten years or more.
What are the plans for ground-floor retail at the North Boston structures?
There are plans for 44,000+ square feet of ground-floor retail at the North Boston structures on 305 Brooklyn Ave. The North Boston office and retail-oriented buildings are likely to range from 424,000 square feet to 622,000 square feet.
