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The Mary Ellen McCormack Complex, built in the 1930s, was Boston’s first public housing project.

And now, a major overhaul will revitalize the complex and prepare it for the changing climate.

Purohit: “How do we make it more sustainable and more livable for the next 100 years?”

Devanshi Purohit is with CBT Architects, which drafted the master plan for the redevelopment.

It includes all-electric, energy-efficient units for current residents, new market-rate housing, and business space – amid parks and other gathering areas.

When designing the outdoor spaces, the team preserved mature trees that provide shade so people can stay cooler even as the climate warms.

Climate change is also increasing the risk of flooding from storm surge and sea level rise in nearby Boston Harbor. So the complex will be raised to ensure every building sits above projected future flood levels.

And the landscaping will include features such as rain gardens that help water soak underground instead of pooling.

Purohit: “It’s all just about keeping the water out, keeping the systems running, and making sure that the residents are safe.”

The first new building will open this fall, with more to come over the next two decades – creating a climate-resilient future for a historic Boston neighborhood.

Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media