Cambridge Crossing Named Finalist in Fast Company’s 2025 Innovation by Design Awards

We’re thrilled to share that Cambridge Crossing (CX) has been named a Finalist in Fast Company’s 2025 Innovation by Design Awards in the Urban Design category.

Now in its 14th year, the Innovation by Design Awards celebrate designers and businesses that are tackling today’s most pressing challenges while shaping the solutions of tomorrow. As one of the most prestigious design competitions in the industry, the awards spotlight work that exemplifies originality, beauty, sustainability, user insight, cultural relevance, and measurable impact.

This recognition celebrates CX’s bold and transformative approach to urban development: a 43-acre master plan by CBT that reimagines a former railyard as a regenerative, vibrant and walkable community rooted in health, sustainability, and innovation.

At the heart of the district are eleven acres of parks, plazas, and trails, seamlessly connecting to the Charles River, regional bike networks, and two MBTA transit stations. The Central Common serves as both a civic anchor and a piece of high-performance green infrastructure: managing stormwater, reducing urban heat, and hosting community events year-round.

What sets CX apart is its authentic layering of culture, ecology, and adaptability. From reused granite and community-driven public art to streets renamed in honor of suffragists, the site embraces its history while projecting a resilient and inclusive future. All buildings target LEED Gold or Platinum, with the district guided by WELL Community, SITES, and Envision certification frameworks.

Cambridge Crossing is more than a successful redevelopment; it’s a model for 21st-century city-making. A place where infrastructure is human-centered, architecture reflects diversity, and the boundaries between innovation, nature, and everyday life dissolve into something greater.

We’re honored to see this vision recognized alongside some of the most forward-thinking design work from around the world.