MXD II (Google Kendall) | 325 Main St. | Kendall Square | Cambridge

The Kendall Square Roof Garden, closed for years while being re-done as part of this project, has now reopened to the public. The new main stairway is not yet open, but the garden is accessible via elevators and garage stairs. Here are some shots of the new garden from this weekend:

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bigpicture7 said:
The Kendall Square Roof Garden, closed for years while being re-done as part of this project, has now reopened to the public. The new main stairway is not yet open, but the garden is accessible via elevators and garage stairs. Here are some shots of the new garden from this weekend:

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Oh nice a pickleball court! Was just wondering how many publicly-accessible courts there are in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville etc.
 
It's amazing how much better it accomplishes the goals of the new MIT open space, IMO. This space is actually fun and has nice, enjoyable art and GOOD greenspace! Are there ping pong tables? That's the one thing I think I'll miss from the old space, if not.
 
bigpicture7 said:
The Kendall Square Roof Garden, closed for years while being re-done as part of this project, has now reopened to the public. The new main stairway is not yet open, but the garden is accessible via elevators and garage stairs. Here are some shots of the new garden from this weekend:

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Proto is such a great development. The best part is that its built with the pretty cheap greyish white precast we see on so many projects, but its done right. Just goes to show what some setbacks, a high aspect ratio, and some regular materials used smartly can achieve. Nothing about it is necessarily spectacular, but everything just works extremely well. So many background buildings have weird massing proportions and messy use of materials. Proto does it all well, not in a flashy way either, just confident and cleanly.
 
The new mural next to One65Main is (mostly?) done. They took down the scaffolding but there seem to be a few stenciled fish still there that haven't been completed. Not sure if that's intentional. Personally not a huge fan of this work mainly because it centers on a Canada goose, one of my least favorite things about Boston.
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'Den, that bicyclist (3rd pic down) with the white leather hat and the matching white leather go-go boots brought a smile to my face today!

Keep on pedaling Cambridge!!!!!!! (y)
 
bigpicture7 said:
Now if they could actually make the trains the ticker board refers to run on time, I'd be more impressed ; )
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.....or make any sense to the masses. I'm a former federal gov't Linguist/Cryptologist (from the 80's-early 90's) and I can't make heads or tails out of much of what's up on that board.
 
They’re rebuilding the outbound red line head house and using this entrance as a new path to the red line platform so there remains a western exit at Kendall outbound. On the platform they’ve boxed out the party wall and will presumably be doing demolition soon. The new head house will be on the same footprint as the existing one so it needs to be taken out of use.
 
From earlier this week.
 

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Justbuildit said:
They’re rebuilding the outbound red line head house and using this entrance as a new path to the red line platform so there remains a western exit at Kendall outbound. On the platform they’ve boxed out the party wall and will presumably be doing demolition soon. The new head house will be on the same footprint as the existing one so it needs to be taken out of use.
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You could make several MBTA stations better by leasing the basements of adjacent buildings and widening the platforms. Kendall and Central are obvious, but this is also something they need to think about in terms of an entrance to future Charles MGH Blue on the south side of Cambridge Street.

I'm not EGE so I'm not an expert on the layouts, but it seems like State, Downtown Crossing, and Chinatown could all do this, and probably Copley and Arlington as well.
 
Totally agree, and while I remember MGH allocated funds for a BLX head house I don’t remember if it’s within the footprint of one of their new buildings or not.

I wonder if this entrance through the Google building will remain after the new head house is open. Otherwise it would be part of some strange basement appendage that’s walled off from the platform. I don’t recall seeing much about its future in construction or planning docs, but someone here might know.
 
bigpicture7 said:
The Kendall Square Roof Garden, closed for years while being re-done as part of this project, has now reopened to the public. The new main stairway is not yet open, but the garden is accessible via elevators and garage stairs. Here are some shots of the new garden from this weekend:

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Scanning in old negatives, and had to add to this old thread. While the above image(s) above show a remarkable 3rd rebuild of the rooftop garden. Here is the first build of the garden, circa 1986. Not the most inviting of designs.

Photo taken form the newly opened Marriott. Existing (and only, at the time) parking garage. "Stride Rite" aka Legals building on the left. "Mead Hall" (nee Quantum nee Baybank) building on the right. And you'll notice a lot of buildings in the background aren't quite there yet, including the new apartment building built on the old loading dock, and the Whitehead buildings.
 

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