Allston, Mass. – Architecture, interiors, and planning firm PCA has completed Arthaus, an art-focused residential development in the heart of Boston’s Allston neighborhood.
Located at the intersection of North Beacon and Everett Streets, Arthaus, the latest development by The Mount Vernon Company, is composed of a five-story, 72-unit apartment residence and a separate nine-unit condominium building.
Arthaus’s glassed-in lobby showcases local artists and a street-level public plaza with seating on North Beacon Street. The gallery, managed by Unbound Visual Arts, an Allston-Brighton–based nonprofit arts organization, engages those passing by to view an ever-changing display of locally created artwork.
![Arthaus gallery, Allston, Mass.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/3%20Gallery%20Photo%204_Reilly%20Nov%206.jpg)
PCA’s design features a distinctive, contemporary façade inspired by the Japanese origami, with waveform patterns zigzagging through the corrugated metal exterior.
DESIGN ADDS NEW ENERGY TO ALLSTON NEIGHBORHOOD
“We know from years of experience that a great design appeals to tenants and outperforms competing properties,” said Bruce A. Percelay, Chairman and Founder of The Mount Vernon Company. “We want to be the best in any neighborhood where we compete, and we express that through architecture. PCA’s design adds new energy to a neighborhood known for its eclectic eateries, entertainment venues, and locally owned shops.”
“With Arthaus, we wanted to create a one-of-a-kind residential experience that reflects the artistic and diverse cultural character of the neighborhood,” said PCA Principal Dave Snell, AIA, LEED AP BD+C. “Allston has long been at the heart of Boston’s arts and music community, and the connection between the Arthaus design, the building’s amenities, and its community engagement clearly struck a chord with residents.” Arthaus was fully leased before its completion.
WIDE RANGE OF TENANT AMENITIES
The recently occupied residence offers a wide range of high-end tenant amenities at a price point below competing properties: a rooftop gathering and entertaining space with 360-degree city views, on-site underground parking, a high-tech fitness center with Peloton bikes and a MIRROR interactive fitness system, electric vehicle charging stations, and a dog park and pet spa.
Arthaus is the latest of a dozen creative collaborations between PCA and The Mount Vernon Company over the past decade. The two teamed up to produce the LEED Platinum–certified Allston Green District in Boston, the 164-room Revolution Hotel – selected as the #1 Hotel in Boston by Condé Nast Traveler, and Radius, a LEED Gold–certified, mixed-use development featuring 132 apartments and ground-floor retail space in Brighton.
![PCA Arthaus EXT view night Anton Grassl](/sites/default/files/inline-images/PCA_Arthaus_EXT%20View%20NIGHT.jpg)
Owner: The Mount Vernon Company
Architect: PCA
Construction Manager: Cranshaw Construction
Branding & Design: Visual Dialogue
Interior Design: Superette Studio
Structural Engineer: Odeh Engineers
Landscape Architect: RBLA Design
![UVA technical staff set up the latest showing at Arthaus's gallery.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/5%20Arthaus%20gallery%20installation_1.png)
ABOUT PCA
PCA, founded in 1982 and based in Cambridge, is recognized as one of Greater Boston’s largest, most responsive and innovative design firms. The firm’s creative staff brings a blend of business insight and creative problem-solving to each project. With expertise in architecture, planning, and interior design, the firm’s thoughtful, award-winning design has generated one success after another for our clients — projects that thrive in the marketplace and bring lasting value to the community.
ABOUT THE MOUNT VERNON COMPANY
Mount Vernon Company is a real estate investment company recognized as one of the leading apartment property owners in Massachusetts. The company, founded by Bruce A. Percelay, has grown over the past 30 years to include 1,600 apartments, five hotels, and select commercial and vacation properties. Mount Vernon Company received the Community Excellence Award from the Rental Housing Association of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, the Paragon Award for Industry Excellence by the National Apartment Association, Best Landlord in Boston recognition by Boston Magazine, and Best Places to Work in Boston award by the Boston Business Journal.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Dec 29, 2020
Sarah’s Circle supportive housing facility for women completes in Chicago
Perkins+Will designed the project.
Market Data | Dec 29, 2020
Multifamily transactions drop sharply in 2020, according to special report from Yardi Matrix
Sales completions at end of Q3 were down over 41 percent from the same period a year ago.
Multifamily Housing | Dec 16, 2020
What the Biden Administration means for multifamily construction
What can the multifamily real estate sector expect from Biden and Company? At the risk of having egg, if not a whole omelet, on my face, let me take a shot.
Giants 400 | Dec 16, 2020
Download a PDF of all 2020 Giants 400 Rankings
This 70-page PDF features AEC firm rankings across 51 building sectors, disciplines, and specialty services.
Multifamily Housing | Dec 4, 2020
The Weekly show: Designing multifamily housing for COVID-19, and trends in historic preservation and adaptive reuse
This week on The Weekly show, BD+C editors spoke with leaders from Page & Turnbull and Grimm + Parker Architects about designing multifamily housing for COVID-19, and trends in historic preservation and adaptive reuse
Giants 400 | Dec 2, 2020
2020 Multifamily Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. multifamily building sector
Clark Group, Humphreys & Partners Architects, and Kimley-Horn head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest multifamily building sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Smart Buildings | Nov 20, 2020
The Weekly show: SPIRE smart building rating system, and pickleball court design tips
The November 19 episode of BD+C's The Weekly is available for viewing on demand.
AEC Tech | Nov 12, 2020
The Weekly show: Nvidia's Omniverse, AI for construction scheduling, COVID-19 signage
BD+C editors speak with experts from ALICE Technologies, Build Group, Hastings Architecture, Nvidia, and Woods Bagot on the November 12 episode of "The Weekly." The episode is available for viewing on demand.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 11, 2020
San Jose affordable housing project will feature a mass timber frame
SERA Architects and Lendlease will design and build the project.