DORCHESTER, Mass.— Dorchester Design Collaborative, a partnership between Jennifer Ha of Hue Architecture and Milo Stella of Star Contracting Co, has joined with Bensonwood to deliver a 12-unit affordable homeownership development at 104–108 Norwell Street in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood.
All three four-unit building shells are now complete, marking a milestone for what project leaders say are the first Passive House–designed multifamily buildings of their kind in the neighborhood. Built on previously vacant, city-owned lots, the development introduces a high-performance housing model intended to accelerate construction timelines while improving cost efficiency and energy performance.
The project team utilized Bensonwood’s off-site, panelized construction system to streamline delivery and maintain tighter control over budget, quality and schedule. The approach integrates high-performance design from the earliest planning stages through on-site assembly, creating a scalable framework for multifamily development that could be replicated across the Northeast.
The development was financed with a $3.2 million construction loan from the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, along with grants from the City of Boston and MassHousing’s Commonwealth Builder program. It represents part of the first phase of the city’s Welcome Home Boston RFP initiative, aimed at expanding affordable homeownership opportunities and supporting emerging development teams.
“104–108 Norwell Street shows what is possible when we combine innovative construction methods with a commitment to creating homes that Boston families can afford,” said Sheila A. Dillon, chief of housing for the City of Boston. “By transforming long-vacant city-owned land into high-quality, energy-efficient homes, this project delivers on our goals for both housing and climate readiness.”
Project highlights include three Passive House–design-certified buildings engineered for high energy performance, rooftop solar panels projected to help the development achieve net-zero energy use, and affordability levels split evenly between households earning 80% and 100% of area median income. Community amenities include electric vehicle charging stations and bicycle parking.
Jennifer Ha, co-founder of Dorchester Design Collaborative, said the project reflects the team’s belief that affordability and design excellence should go hand in hand. “We hope 104–108 Norwell Street serves as a benchmark for Boston,” Ha said. “This project is the perfect example of why we do this work—a vision realized only by bringing together an exceptional, owner-integrated design-build-prefab team.”
Milo Stella, general manager at Star Contracting Co., said the development raises the bar for infill multifamily housing in Boston by creating affordable ownership opportunities that prioritize comfort, health and energy efficiency.
Bensonwood’s Director of Business Development, Seth Clarke, added that the project demonstrates how community-driven design and advanced off-site construction can work together to address both climate goals and the region’s housing shortage.
With its combination of Passive House performance standards, solar energy generation and attainable homeownership pricing, the Norwell Street development is positioned as a model for sustainable, small-scale multifamily housing in urban neighborhoods.
