CBT Wins 2025 AIA Regional & Urban Design Award for Mary Ellen McCormack Phase One

We are honored to share that the Mary Ellen McCormack Master Plan: Phase One has been awarded a 2025 AIA Regional & Urban Design Award, one of the highest national honors recognizing excellence in urban design. The announcement was celebrated at last night’s awards gala in Boston, where our team gathered with peers and collaborators to reflect on the transformative potential of design grounded in community.

Located in South Boston, Mary Ellen McCormack is New England’s first public housing development. Phase One of the redevelopment lays the groundwork for a bold, multi-phase transformation of the 30-acre site into a resilient, mixed-income neighborhood rooted in equity, connectivity, and a strong sense of place. With a commitment to one-for-one replacement of deeply affordable units, Phase One introduces the first new residential buildings, streets, and open spaces that bring the broader plan’s goals of inclusion, livability, and sustainability to life.

This initial phase reflects four years of deep collaboration with residents, the Boston Housing Authority, WinnCompanies, and an interdisciplinary team. It preserves the community’s historic strengths—its social ties, walkability, and public realm—while introducing a new framework of housing choice, climate-responsive infrastructure, and civic spaces designed to grow with the neighborhood.

“This award reinforces the value of designing with, not just for, communities,” said Kishore Varanasi, Principal and Director of Urban Design at CBT. “Phase One is a critical first step in transforming Mary Ellen McCormack into a vibrant model for equitable and resilient public housing.”

“This recognition is a testament to the power of partnership,” added Devanshi Purohit, Principal at CBT. “From deep engagement with residents to collaboration with public and private partners, Phase One reflects a shared belief in the future of this community and what it deserves.”

We celebrate this award with our incredible partners and collaborators who helped bring Phase One to life. CBT served as the master planner for the full site and the architect for Buildings B and C within Phase One. Project collaborators include WinnCompanies (Master Developer), Boston Housing Authority (Site Owner), The Architectural Team (Architect for Building A), and Copley Wolff Design Group (Landscape Architects)—a team dedicated to shaping inclusive, community-centered futures.

Explore the full gallery of 2025 AIA award recipients here.