Other Projects

Other Oaktree Projects: Descriptions of a selected group

Ellery Square – Located at the Corner of Broadway and Ellery Streets in Cambridge, this project includes 22 large townhouses which surround and inner courtyard that was once the Cambridge skating club. Dimitri Hadzi who taught sculpture at Harvard and purchased one on the original units, traded an extra bathroom for a bronze sculpture which is now featured in the courtyard. The project was completed in 1979 and is now a premier Cambridge location.

607/619 Green Street – Located near Harvard Square in Cambridge this condominium project includes seven townhouses with separate garages, creating a courtyard entry for the units. All units have basements, a small private garden, and a third floor master bedroom with a South-facing deck. These units achieved the highest sale price per square foot for townhouse sales in Cambridge in 1999.

Norwood Crossing – This 105 unit rental project will be located near the Norwood town center. The project abuts the commuter rail stop in Norwood, with service to downtown Boston. Amenities include an outdoor pool and spa, exercise room with sauna, function room, and enclosed and secure parking. The project is only three blocks from the town green, which is surrounded by shops, City Buildings and some restaurants. The project will be complete in Fall 2002.

Standish at Lower Falls - This 85 unit Assisted Living project abuts the Neponset River in Dorchester at Lower Falls. The project includes the rehabilitation with an Historic Tax Credit of an old industrial complex called Fabreeka Mills. These mills utilized the water power of the Neponset River. It is next to the Baker Chocolate Factory on Adams Street, one block from Milton and from a Red Line T stop. This project was completed in 1993.

Chelmsford Housing for the Elderly – This is project is included as an example of Oaktree’s (then Unihab’s) residential design abilities. In 1978 the Massachusetts Department of Community Affairs sponsored their first and last architectural design competition for of a senior living facility. The proposed project was located in Chelmsford, MA. The competition caught the imagination of the Boston architectural community, and 50 architectural firms submitted designs, including proposals from Cambridge Seven and the then Boston office of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Oaktree won. Oaktree collaborated with another firm to complete the contract documents and project administration. The project was completed in 1980.

The Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum - This project is included as an example of Oaktree’s (then Unihab’s) general design abilities. In 1969, shortly after Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, the State of Ohio advertised for ideas for a museum to be constructed to celebrate the lunar event in Neil’s hometown. A prototype design was submitted by Arthur Klipfel, a principal in Oaktree, and was accepted. In this case Oaktree collaborated with a local Ohio architectural firm to complete the contract documents and project administration. The project was completed in 1971. Oaktree designed and created most of the exhibits; many, locally, in Cambridge.

The Graphic Arts Center – Conceived in 1967 this project was never built, but it is included as an example of the experience and expertise of one of the principals of Oaktree. Paul Rudolph’s office in NYC was commissioned by the City of NY under the administration of Mayor Lindsey to create a Graphic Arts Center. The purpose was to keep jobs related to the graphic arts industry within the City. It was a fragmented industry, and given increasing rents and labor costs, the migration was beginning. Arthur Klipfel, a partner in Oaktree was designated as project manager. For over one year he worked with the Lithographer’s Union, the City’s Department of Economic Development, and with the West Side Highway Authority (the project spanned the West Side Highway and extended roughly 900’ into the Hudson River), to create the design attached and a plan of execution. The execution missed, but the design was presented in several exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum and many other venues as an outstanding example of futurist urban design.