We’re so excited to announce that our work on Overlook Terrace at Orient Heights, an affordable housing project located in East Boston, Mass., won a 2025 National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. This project had previously won a Silver Award from ACEC Massachusetts. Both awards recognize Nitsch Engineering for our innovative site and roadway design, produced in collaboration with the Boston Housing Authority and Trinity Financial.
The need for affordable housing has never been higher, and the redevelopment of Overlook Terrace at Orient Heights offers a model for how thoughtful engineering and strategic planning can benefit our communities.
The Overlook Terrace at Orient Heights community in East Boston, owned by the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), underwent a comprehensive redevelopment to enhance its livability and sustainability. Originally built in 1951, the neighborhood had deteriorated significantly by 2013, prompting a full-site redesign. The BHA leased the land to Trinity Financial in 2013, and Nitsch Engineering was brought on as the master plan civil engineer and land surveyor in 2015. By the end of the project, Nitsch provided civil engineering, transportation engineering, and land surveying services, including roadway reconstruction, stormwater management, and utility infrastructure improvements.
The redevelopment project was executed in three phases to allow current residents to remain in the neighborhood during construction. The existing 15-acre development was comprised of three roughly parallel public streets: Waldemar Avenue at the bottom (Phase 1), Vallar Road forming a cul-se-sac in the middle (Phase 2), and Faywood Avenue at the top of the site (Phase 3). Site walls up to 30 feet high broke up a 100-foot elevation change from the lowest part of the development to the highest.
The project faced challenges due to the site’s extreme topography and the need to maintain continuous service to residents during construction. Innovative solutions were implemented to address these challenges, such as designing underground utilities to navigate the site’s elevation changes and phasing infrastructure improvements to ensure continuous service.
The project involved the demolition and reconstruction of many buildings, redesign of all roadways, grounding of formerly above-ground utilities, and inspection and repair of the critical retaining walls. The final phase was completed in 2023, resulting in a modern, functional community with 331 affordable housing units, contemporary roadways, parks, and a community center.
The project achieved significant social, economic, and sustainable benefits. It provided energy-efficient, modern housing with improved green spaces, pedestrian safety, and community amenities, as well as a more sustainable and resilient design. The redevelopment was funded through a combination of public and private sources, including grants from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development and the City of Boston.
Overall, the Overlook Terrace redevelopment transformed a neglected neighborhood into a vibrant, sustainable community that improves the quality of life for residents.