Building the Infrastructure Behind a New Urban District

A former regional mall site reimagined into a dynamic mixed-use neighborhood.
A complex urban redevelopment with layers of infrastructure, permitting, and coordination.
A project where thoughtful engineering helped shape an entirely new district.

RJ O’Connell played a central role in the transformation of Arsenal Yards, helping guide the redevelopment from early feasibility through construction across one of Greater Boston’s most ambitious adaptive reuse projects.
RJOC helped establish the framework for a walkable, connected destination that blends retail, residential, hospitality, and life sciences into a cohesive neighborhood experience.

Redeveloping the former Arsenal Mall site required more than replacing buildings, it meant rethinking how the entire property could function as a modern mixed-use environment.

RJOC worked closely with the ownership and consultant team to coordinate infrastructure, circulation, grading, and utility systems that could support the evolving needs of the development over time.

Existing utilities, drainage systems, traffic flow, and site constraints all required careful coordination. RJOC provided site and civil engineering solutions that balanced technical performance with the realities of construction in a dense, active setting.

Projects of this scale require constant coordination beneath the surface as much as above it. RJOC designed stormwater, grading, and utility systems that support the long-term performance of the development while integrating seamlessly across the mixed-use campus. Working closely with the full consultant team, RJOC helped align infrastructure, permitting, and construction from concept through completion.

Today, Arsenal Yards has become a destination for dining, shopping, living, hospitality, and innovation in the heart of Watertown. Behind the scenes, RJOC’s work helped create the infrastructure and technical foundation necessary to support that experience at every level.

Services

• Lead Consultant/Project Manager
• Survey
• Masterplanning
• Feasibility Studies
• Site/Civil Engineering
• Stormwater Management
• Environmental Permitting
• Land Use Permitting
• Construction Documents
• Construction Phase Services

Project Team

• Architect: Hord Coplan Machtr
• Landscape Architect: Copley Wolff Design Group
• Traffic: Vanasse & Associates
• Environmental: Lucas Environmental
• Geotechnical: Sanborn Head