BOSTON— Boston Planning & Development Agency officials voted unanimously Thursday to approve the first phase of Skanska’s Longwood Place project, advancing a major mixed-use development planned for the heart of Boston’s Longwood Medical Area.
The approval clears the way for construction of three initial buildings—two commercial and one residential—on the former residential campus of Simmons University along Brookline Avenue. The project will also include below-grade parking and a series of public realm improvements aimed at enhancing accessibility and neighborhood connectivity.
The decision marks a significant milestone for the Longwood Place project, a nearly six-acre redevelopment designed to bring housing, lab and office space, retail, and community amenities to one of the city’s most prominent academic and healthcare districts.
“The BPDA’s unanimous approval is a meaningful step forward for Longwood Place and reflects years of collaboration with the community, City, and our partners,” said Russ DeMartino, Executive Vice President of Skanska USA Commercial Development in Boston. “This represents an important milestone in delivering new housing and commercial space in a way that is responsive to its surroundings.”
As currently envisioned, the full Longwood Place project will span approximately 1.7 million square feet and include a mix of residential, laboratory, office, clinical, retail, and community uses. Plans also call for 2.8 acres of publicly accessible open space and roughly 15,000 square feet dedicated to community use.
The broader development, approved under a Planned Development Area framework in 2023, is expected to ultimately include five buildings—three commercial and two residential. Additional approvals will be required for future phases, including another residential and commercial building.
Developers say the project is designed to support both Boston’s housing needs and the continued growth of the Longwood Medical Area, a major hub for research, education, and healthcare institutions.
“Longwood Place is designed to add lasting value for nearby institutions, neighborhood residents, visitors, and the city as a whole,” DeMartino said. “By creating new open space, enhancing the public realm, and prioritizing sustainability, this project supports Boston’s housing and resilience goals.”
The development is part of a broader partnership between Skanska and Simmons University to reimagine the school’s campus. Last summer, the partners celebrated a topping-off ceremony for the university’s new Living and Learning Center, a 19-story building that will anchor the One Simmons project. The facility, expected to open in January 2027, will serve as a hub for student life, health, and wellness.
With the latest approval secured, construction on the initial phase of Longwood Place is expected to move forward, bringing new housing and commercial opportunities to one of Boston’s most dynamic neighborhoods.
