Architecture Students Secure First Place in Affordable Housing Competition
"The Mosaic" aims to create 83 affordable housing units, with a mix of 70 one-bedroom and 13 two-bedroom apartments
A team of Wentworth Institute of Technology Graduate Architecture students won first place in the 25th Annual Affordable Housing Design and Development Competition. Charles Bale, M.Arch. '25, Emma Perry, M.Arch. '26, and Maddie Tirado, M.Arch. '25, were part of a collaborative, inter-institutional team that developed a winning proposal to transform a historic Boston high school into affordable senior housing.
The competition, sponsored by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (FHLBank Boston), challenged graduate students in architecture, real estate, planning, finance, and policy to create innovative and viable affordable housing solutions. This year's competition drew seven entries from teams across New England.
The Wentworth students, alongside teammates from Harvard University and MIT, developed "The Mosaic," a proposal to convert the landmark South Boston High School into a vibrant, intergenerational community for low-income seniors. Their project, created in collaboration with the South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation, Davis Square Architects, and finance mentor David Aiken, was awarded the $10,000 first-place prize.
"The Mosaic" aims to create 83 affordable housing units, with a mix of 70 one-bedroom and 13 two-bedroom apartments. A unique feature of the design is the inclusion of six units designated for seniors with live-in caregivers and seven for seniors who are guardians to children, fostering a supportive, multi-generational environment.
The proposal emphasizes community and well-being, incorporating a rooftop garden, a library, a games and arts room, a fitness center, and a large multipurpose space. Residents would also have access to a variety of services and programming, such as yoga, computer classes, and guest lecturers.
“At the core of The Mosaic’s mission is a belief that aging should not imply isolation or boredom,” the team stated in their winning proposal.
The competition provides students with a unique opportunity to engage in a real-world design challenge, from conception to financial feasibility. “It’s been an incredible experience to offer students an opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world affordable housing development,” said Kenneth Willis, senior vice president and director of housing and community investment at FHLBank Boston. Over the past 25 years, more than 1,200 students from over 20 colleges and universities have participated in the competition.
The competition was judged by a panel of experts in housing and urban development. Sponsoring organizations included the Boston Society for Architecture, CohnReznick, the Kuehn Charitable Foundation, ICON Architecture Inc., and the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association.