The Cecil Groupwww.ceci lgroup.com

Firm Overview

The Cecil GroupPlanning and Design

241 A Street Suite 500Boston, Massachusetts 02210 tel: 617.426.5050fax: 617.426.5051

www.cecilgroup.com

Firm Description

The Cecil Group joins the talents of its architects, urban designers, planners, landscape architects and graphic designers to help clients realize the potential of their towns, cities, developments, buildings, institutions, parks and open space. By maintaining a multi-disciplinary staff we deliver the varied expertise needed in order to suc-cessfully “put places together.” Our work includes urban design, land planning, community planning, landscape architecture, stainability planning, and institutional planning, including expertise in helping institutions, towns and cities formulate and navigate change that benefits each party’s interests.

The firm matches the expertise of its professionals to each project challenge, complementing the client and professional teams with which they work. Throughout its tenure, The Cecil Group has proven its distinctive ability to provide actionable creative physical design and planning solutions that are specifically tailored to the circum-stances of each project. As a result of this approach, the firm is recognized for its ability to translate strategic goals into practical plans and designs that are highly responsive to complex economic, regulatory and community considerations. The firm’s projects are distinguished because they recognize and link relevant historic, cultural and environmental contexts. The Cecil Group’s emphasis on effective communication has led to its excellent credentials in facilitat-ing community participation and approvals processes.

Located in Boston, The Cecil Group’s work represents an unusually wide range of project types, scales and locations. Although the firm brings an extensive background in both national and international assignments, the focus of much of the practice is within New England’s cities, towns and open spaces. The list of past and pres-ent clients is similarly varied, with a balanced representation of public, private and institutional sectors.

Services

The Cecil Group brings the direct experience of its professionals on a wide range of planning and design projects. Services provided by the firm include:

Urban Design

Community Planning

Landscape Architecture

Architecture

Land Planning

Institutional Planning

Downtown Revitalization

Waterfront Design and Planning

Townscape and Streetscape Plans

Environmental Planning

Select Awards

2011 Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation Certificate of Commendation for Leadership in Community Preservation Efforts – New London Neighborhood Revitalization Planning Study

2010 Outstanding Planning Award, Large Municipality Planning Project from the Massachusetts Chapter American Plan-ning Association – Rutherford Avenue Corridor Study

2010 Outstanding Planning Award, Small Municipality Planning Project from the Massachusetts Chapter American Plan-ning Association – Lee Eagle and Laurel Mills Redevelopment Studies

A focus on “putting places together” underpins the firm’s practice and philosophy.

Urban Designservices

The Cecil Group has provided urban design solutions for clients nation-wide, from individual sites to large communities. The firm’s design philosophy is rooted in our commitment to urban design methods that integrate infrastructure into the larger setting of the community. The Cecil Group approach toward urban design consistently strives to create continuity for historic environments while providing new elements that meet contemporary needs.

Successful urban design requires the ability to choreograph practical increments of both public and private investment over time. The Cecil Group’s approach to urban design recognizes the importance of this in composing built environments that meet the current and future goals of our clients, both stylistically and economically. The Cecil Group has provided a wide range of specialized urban design services as a core component of its services since its

founding. This work applies the skills of professionals with specific training and experience in urban design, in addition to their associated credentials in architecture and landscape architecture. Our portfolio includes projects for private public and private sector initiatives, as well as urban design projects for institutional clients.

Design Services

Waterfront Urban Design

Campus Master Plans including Town/Gown Strategies

District and Downtown Revitalization

Transit-Oriented Development

Mixed Use Development

The Cecil Group was responsible for the urban design and assistance in the environmental planning (MEPA) for a 1 million square foot mixed-use hotel and office develop-ment on Boston’s waterfront. The site planning required careful integration of a new 30-story office tower among existing historic buildings. Consequently, the environ-mental documentation for this project included all of the State and local scoping issues for environmental assess-ments, waterfront analyses, urban design concepts, and historic preservation issues. The project helps extend the Financial District to Boston’s revitalized waterfront edge.

Atlantic Wharf Urban Design and Planning boston, Massachusetts

The Cecil Group prepared a planning study and urban design strategies for the revitaliza-tion of downtown Framingham. The studyincluded the analysis of transportation alternatives to al-leviate traffic congestion caused by the intersection of two main local arterials and the MBTA Boston-Worces-ter commuter rail line. A key goal was to integrate transportation with land use and urban design strate-gies in a unified and coherent downtown improvement plan. In addition to the Urban Design component The Cecil Group developed the streetscape and landscapedesign treatments to implement a comprehensive vision of Downtown Framingham by enhancing the public right of ways using streetscape design. This study was recognized with an Outstanding Planning Award from the Massa-chusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Downtown Framingham Planning StudyFramingham, Massachusetts

The Cecil Group served the Planning Board of the Town of Westwood with peer review design services for the 4.5 million square foot mixed-use development that will be constructed as a new district. The project has been advanced by a major development team and represents a substantial shift in the scale and intensity of development in this moderately-scaled community in suburban Boston. This is a significant opportunity to advance economic development goals within a transit-oriented, environmentally responsible framework. The Cecil Group is responsible for comprehensive review services for all urban design, architecture and landscape architecture elements including signage and lighting. To facilitate the design and review process for such a large and complex development, The Cecil Group prepared detailed design guidelines that translate the Town’s zoning goals into standards that are being applied at all levels of the design and approval process.

Westwood Station Urban Design ServicesWestwood, Massachusetts

LanDscapearchitectUre

Landscape Architecture is an important element in refining and beautifying the built environment. Through thoughtful landscape design we’re able to increase public enjoyment of open space, orchestrate gatherings in multi-use spaces, increase economic vitality in downtown settings and pro-vide private respites for homeowners.

The Cecil Group’s landscape architecture group encom-passes a broad range of project types including master planning, courtyards, parks, urban streetscapes, and land-scape design for residential homes, commercial buildings and multi-use campuses. The Cecil Group designs spaces that balance and respect the environment while meeting our clients’ goals and aspirations. Our success is due to our unique ability to harmonize the practical organization of spaces with creative design solutions that increase the value and thoughtfulness of the space.

Design Services

Master Plans

Landscape Site Planning

Sustainable Landscapes

Landscape Guidelines

Parks

Playgrounds

Hardscapes (Outdoor Barbeques, Fireplaces, Pools and Spas)

Efficient Irrigation and Lighting

Estate Maintenance Management Programs

LEED certification assistance

Construction Oversight

Cost Estimating

ADA compliant design

Native Plantings

Bioretention Cells

Park at the Former Lawrence MillLowell, Massachusetts

The Cecil Group was retained by the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management to lead a team of professionals in the redevelopment of the long -abandoned former Law-rence Mills complex. The Cecil Group served as the prime consultant, site designers and landscape architects. They coordinated a team composed of civil engineers, architects and other specialized professionals. The site plan features exhibits that interpret the former waterpower canals that were threaded through the site. The design uses landscape features to forge a new riverfront pedestrian link between the University of Massachusetts campus and downtown Lowell. An interior park and new infrastructure system are designed to support housing and office developments and aid in visually and economically restoring this historic site.

Image provided by West Village Apartments

The transformation of an old farm became a sustainable oasis for this new 250 unit multifamily community. The over-all landscape design was programmed and formulated to respect the site’s history and surrounding wetlands while providing a unique and inviting pedestrian atmosphere complemented with low impact development initiatives. Na-tive shrub plantings and buffers, wild flower meadows, veg-etated swales and bio-retention cells transition storm water safely into the surrounding habit. Site amenities were incor-porated into the design to create a unique sense of place and provide year round enjoyment for users including, gateway signs, pool and spa, decorative paving, benches, pergolas, masonry barbecues and dark sky compliant light fixtures.

West Village Apartments Mansfield, Massachusetts

The landscape design for this large multifamily community was designed to give the property a distinct atmosphere that would bring together residents in communal spaces. The design incorporates many amenities and site features including unique gateways and decorative masonry signs, alluring landscape lighting, and a lush planting design that extends into the site and clubhouse area. An abundance of masonry structures are arranged to define important pedes-trian pathways, terraces and spaces consisting of masonry barbeques, double sided fireplace patios, and a pool and terraced spa. Enhanced paving, raised planters, cedar per-golas accentuated with low voltage lighting and inspiring fountains provide space for residents to find solitude in this vast community. A bus stop and pedestrian bridge further add to the ambience and unique character of the community.

Asbury Village Apartments raleigh, north carolina

Image provided by Asbury Village Apartments

Washing Pond Residence nantucket, Massachusetts

The goal of the landscape design for this Nantucket estate was to develop a series of spaces for the homeowners and their guests to enjoy while allowing the natural beauty of the island to provide the backdrop for the property. A land-scaped circulation plan allows easy access to all parts of the property. Sculptured terraces provide convenient con-nectivity between spaces and link the architecture and land-scape beyond. Terraced granite steps within the lawn create minimal visual impact to the landscape and are sensitive to views from neighboring properties. Terraced Pennsylvania fieldstone walls provide seating at the pool. Indigenous and durable plants such as Eastern Red Cedar, Rosa Rugosa, Privet and Lavender were carefully selected to evade deer damage, complement the island’s character and define the various spaces through dense buffering and layering.

Salem Winter Island Park Master Plansalem, Massachusetts

The Cecil Group developed a master plan to help the City of Salem achieve its goals of energizing and guiding the successful renovation and redevelopment of Winter Island Park. The proposed park design helps to enhance Winter Island’s unique natural resources, preserve its historically significant properties, increase the public’s access and en-joyment to the park and enable the park to operate in a fiscally sustainable manner. The master plan incorporates low impact design in order to minimize paving and erosion and preserve shoreline edges and includes learning spaces such as an interpretive trail and an outdoor amphitheater and stage for public educational and cultural programs. A significant public participation program was undertaken as part of the master planning process in order to respond to resident and stakeholder suggestions and concerns and to help build public consensus for programming elements.

Falmouth Streetscape ImprovementsFalmouth, Massachusetts

The Cecil Group was responsible for the planning, rede-sign, and construction documentation of the streetscape and civic space reconfiguration of historic downtown Falmouth. The design process included extensive com-munity participation through a workshop process. The project included the redesign of important spaces such as Town Hall Square, Noonan Park, and Academy Lane.

Marblehead Streetscape and Downtown LandscapingMarblehead, Massachusetts

The Cecil Group designed and supported the implemen-tation of a comprehensive study to create an appropriate and attractive public streetscape. This effort was achieved through landscaping, new pavement materials, street fur-niture, and lighting improvements. Through a phased con-struction and design process, the study created a more co-herent downtown and resolved the pedestrian and vehicular circulation issues along critical streets in historic Marblehead.

institUtionaLpLanningservices

Increasingly, the interests of institutions and the com-munities in which they are located are focused on patterns of growth and development. The traditional limits of institutional campus planning and community development activities are becoming intermeshed. As a practical matter, institutions need a high quality setting to attract and retain staff, patrons, clients, and students. Changing needs often require institutions to acquire additional land and facilities to accommo-date growth. Local neighborhoods and communities are increasingly empowered through regulatory and political process to control their future. Municipalities are actively seeking advantages of employment and amenities associated with the institutions within their boundaries, along with direct income opportunities in lieu of taxes.

The purpose of this initiative is to provide a com-prehensive professional service center that assists institutions and communities in forging successful strategies and relationships for the future that meet common goals. This service center will focus on cre-ating an integrated planning approach that combines physical, economic, institutional and public relations perspectives. The services we will provide our clients with:

Resolution of conflicts

Shared visions based on shared interests

Facilitation of a Master Plan for Institutions, Neighborhoods and Municipal Development

Successful investment and redevelopment strategies

Guidance for future actions Services

The Cecil Group, working with Harriman Architects + En-gineers, was engaged by Bates College to update the col-lege’s Master Plan. The resulting plan includes an action plan ensuring effective alignment of the next phase of in-vestments with the academic mission and campus environ-ment that distinguish Bates College.

The refined strategy provides pragmatic adjustments to re-flect emerging campus priorities while adding a clear focus to the steps that will need to be taken over the next few years. Specifically, the planning effort involved identifying possible areas to expand existing facilities, identifying ap-propriate locations for new facilities, enhancing campus features and spaces,incorporating utility infrastructure improvements and cam-pus sustainability planning, and determining maintenance needs of existing facilities.

The planning happened through an inclusive process, that ensured the entire campus community was engaged, un-derstanding and supportive.

Bates College Master Plan UpdateLewiston, Maine

The Cecil Group prepared a planning framework to help set the stage for several planning initiatives that will shape the future of this district, which lies at the edge of the city’s downtown. The Cecil Group worked with a committee of stakeholders in the district including representatives of area institutions, businesses, and residents of the Jewelry Dis-trict/Old Harbor neighborhood. The project applied a multi-disciplinary team which compiled evaluations of the eco-nomics, land use, circulation and infrastructure to provide a pragmatic basis for planning. The process identified shared goals among the stakeholders, and provided recommenda-tions and examples of key tools that can be applied to help transform the district.

Jewelry District/Old Harbor Planning Framework Studyprovidence, rhode island

The Cecil Group led a multi-disciplinary team to create an overall master plan for Saint Anselm College. The 115-year-old Catholic college is comprised of 60 buildings situated on over 400 acres that overlook the City of Manchester. The campus master plan directs the physical development on campus as it refocuses its academic mission for the future. Vehicular and pedestrian circulation, campus infrastructure, signage, and open spaces are some of the key issues ad-dressed. The master plan creates a range of strategies that encourage institutional growth and excellence, while main-taining the strong Benedictine traditions of Saint Anselm College.

Saint Anselm College Campus Master PlanManchester, new hampshire

The Cecil Group created the campus master plan for this picturesque 300-acre campus. The campus master plan provides a physical framework for the College’s future growth and integration into the community. The campus master plan included the renovation of existing buildings, development of a section of campus for a business con-ference center, reconfiguration of vehicular and pedestrian circulation and designation of open space.

Endicott College Master Planbeverly, Massachusetts

architectUreThe Cecil Group pursues design processes that produce highly creative and functional buildings. The professionals at The Cecil Group apply their multi-disciplinary backgrounds to develop an in-depth understanding of the site and its uses to create a design that best meets client needs. The firm provides end-to-end architectural services, from architec-tural planning and conceptual work to construction docu-mentation.

The strength of The Cecil Group lies in its multi-disciplinary practice - the firm has proven adept at leveraging the power of its various disciplines to create superior architectural de-sign. The Cecil Group recently completed a series of proj-ects for the Tweeter Center, the largest outdoor performance facility in the United States. The team brought together ar-chitecture and landscape architecture design principles to create an 8000-seat improvement project, which opened in 2002.

Oak Bluffs Ferry Terminaloak bluffs, Massachusetts

The Cecil Group was the design architect, site program-mer and site designer for the Oak Bluffs Ferry Terminal. This project solves many pragmatic circulation issues as-sociated with the large numbers of passengers, cargo semi-trailer handling, pick-up and drop-off, and luggage handling. The Cecil Group prepared evaluations of passen-ger and vehicle flows to determine the most cost effective approach to reconstruction. The firm was also responsible for the design of the ferry terminal building and related ticket window functions. The Cecil Group worked closely with constituent groups to ensure that all new enhancements reflect the historic character of the town and enhance the travel experience.

2011 American Council of Engineering Companies/Massachusetts Excellence in Engineering Silver Award

The Cecil Group recently completed the design and renova-tion of the BosTix ticket booth in Boston’s Faneuil Hall Mar-ketplace. The existing 30 year old structure had deteriorated due to age and required a complete renovation. The new booth design creates a dynamic presence for ArtsBoston and a renewed vitality directly adjacent to Faneuil Hall and the Freedom Trail. The design evokes elements of a theatre marquee with its lit sign band and cantilevered overhang while still staying in character with ArtBoston’s other booth location in Copley Square. The design further complements its surroundings with traditional materials including a cop-per roof and restored weathervane. Because of the chal-lengingly small footprint a spatially efficient structure was required. The Cecil Group designed a customized and multi-functional exterior frame to provide a lively and en-gaging threshold to the arts community through a series of digital displays that show theatre posters and upcoming event information.

BosTix Ticket Boothboston, Massachusetts

The Cecil Group assisted the Salem Redevelopment Au-thority in advancing the redevelopment of the historic and abandoned jail complex in the downtown. The Cecil Group prepared design studies and redevelopment feasibility studies to help establish the range of market-supportable uses, prepared the Developer Request for Proposals, helped market the property. The Cecil Group then provided professional assistance in the review of the proposals and in the subsequent designation of a preferred developer and a project. This project included community participation and close coordination with historic preservation agencies and advocates.

Old Salem Jail Redevelopment Planning and Developer Selection Servicessalem, Massachusetts

projectLeaDership

At The Cecil Group we know that the success of a project is derived from its leadership. To that regard our senior professionals manage and staff each of our projects. They’re not just the face of the company that disappears after the interview, but the centerpiece of the team that will help bring your project goals to fruition.

Steven G. Cecil AIA ASLA principal

As the founding principal of The Cecil Group, Inc., Steve brings over twenty-five years of pro-fessional experience to the firm, including urban design, planning, landscape architecture, and architecture projects throughout the United States and abroad. His practice brings cre-ative solutions to planning and design challenges that are attentive to their cultural, environ-mental and community context. Steve brings a commitment and special skills in community participation as a dimension of the firm’s successful planning and design projects. Prior to forming The Cecil Group, he was a founding principal of Cecil & Rizvi, Inc. and served as Direc-tor of Urban Design and Landscape Architecture at both CBT Architects and SOM/Boston.

Kenneth J. Buckland AICP LEED AP principal

A Principal with The Cecil Group, Ken has over twenty-five years of planning experience with expertise in environmental planning, municipal affairs, and zoning. He has worked as a planner in several municipalities, including Falmouth, Massachusetts, and Stamford and New Haven, Connecticut. He has also worked in the private sector for SEA Consultants in Cambridge, and Nitsch Engineering in Boston, as well as served as principal in his own firm. In addition to his significant efforts in visioning, strategic planning and imple-mentation, Mr. Buckland has focused on land use and environmental management plans.

Erik Bednarek ASLA Director of Landscape architecture and Land planning

Mr. Bednarek brings over 16 years experience to The Cecil Group in landscape design for residential communities, urban/streetscape, parks, commercial and institutional projects. Prior to joining The Cecil Group, Mr. Bednarek was the Principal of EJB Designs Landscape Architecture and Planning, whose focus was on sustainable/low impact design practices for clients throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic region. Before starting EJB De-signs, Mr. Bednarek was a landscape architect at Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. During this time, Mr. Bednarek was responsible for managing and preparing conceptual & de-sign documents for public and private projects including: retail and commercial projects, institutional campuses, streetscapes, airports, bike paths and residential communities.