Located in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, Hearth at Four Corners is a 54-unit supportive senior housing development led by Hearth Inc. (Boston). Opened in July 2021, the 50,000-square-foot affordable community houses 19 units reserved for extremely low-income seniors at risk of homelessness, with eight units set aside to house formerly homeless individuals—together filling a major need in a state whose growing over-60 population lacks attainable housing options.
Situated just blocks from several major parks and other community amenities, the four-story wood-frame building activates a formerly empty lot. The design was led by The Architectural Team (TAT; Chelsea, Mass.), in conjunction with D/R/E/A/M Collaborative (Boston), which took on entitlement work with the Boston Planning & Development Agency (Boston) and the Neighborhood Development (Boston) office, and helped to design the building during the schematic and design development phases of the project.
With a brick masonry base and shingle siding, the L-shaped building’s façade transitions to flat panels and floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a street presence that feels contemporary and dynamic, while remaining contextual within the area’s established residential neighborhoods comprising triple-decker and Victorian-style houses.
A large, glazed center volume houses commercial space, a community room and kitchen, a fitness center, activity space, and central laundry for residents. The community room connects to a light-filled patio, forming a functional indoor-outdoor extension of the property’s living area. Inside, an inviting palette of medium-saturated green and jewel-teal hues combine with warm finishes and colorful, contemporary artwork to provide a vibrant yet tranquil environment.
Project details:
Facility name: Hearth at Four Corners
Location: Dorchester, Mass.
Completion date: July 2021
Owner: Hearth Development
Total building area: 48,883 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: $19 million
Cost/sq. ft.: $389
Architecture firm: The Architectural Team (TAT), in collaboration with D/R/E/A/M Collaborative
Interior design: The Architectural Team (TAT), in collaboration with D/R/E/A/M Collaborative
General contractor: D.F. Pray
Engineering: Samiotes Consultant
Builder: D.F. Pray
