Cambridge, MA

Putnam Gardens and Newtowne Court—two of Cambridge’s largest and most historic public housing communities—underwent transformative, multi-phase modernization to improve safety, livability, and long-term resilience. With both sites remaining 85–90% occupied throughout construction, the Cambridge Housing Authority required the team to craft a carefully sequenced approach that minimized disruption while delivering substantial upgrades to building systems and site infrastructure.

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Modern Infrastructure for Long-Term Community Stability

Samiotes provided comprehensive civil engineering and land surveying services across both developments, helping the CHA implement RAD-funded improvements that support safer, healthier, and more sustainable housing.

Key contributions included:

• Upgrading civil infrastructure to support new building systems and site improvements

• Surveying and documenting existing conditions across both multi-building campuses

• Supporting phased construction strategies that maintain resident occupancy throughout

• Coordinating stormwater, utility, and accessibility upgrades within dense urban sites to meet all City of Cambridge standards

• Integrating new exterior trash facilities at Putnam Gardens to replace outdated chute systems

• Enhancing site circulation, landscaping, and outdoor community spaces

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Together, these improvements strengthen two cornerstone Cambridge communities—preserving affordability, improving quality of life, and extending the service life of essential public housing assets.