The Speedway

“The Speedway is proof that any property, no matter how challenging, can be brought back to life with the right team.”

– Alison Frazee, Executive Director, Boston Preservation Alliance

The Speedway

Boston, MA

  • Architectural Heritage Foundation

  • 1.3 Acres

  • Complete

  • Bruner/Cott, architect
    KMDG, landscape architect
    Nitsch, civil engineer

  • Housing + Mixed-Use
    Cultural + Adaptive Reuse

  • Architectural Heritage Foundation
    Boston Public Library
    Christian Phillips Photography
    DF Pray
    Massachusetts DCR

The Charles River Speedway Complex is in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

Dating from the 1890’s, the site was offered for development through the DCR’s Historic Curatorship Program. The development team’s proposal involved a full rehabilitation of the buildings and landscape. Critical to the use of the site is the central courtyard which supports the tenant businesses including one of the anchor tenants Notch Brewing, a local craft brewer. The courtyard helps expand function space while also being accessible to the public as a neighborhood open space.

In partnership with Bruner Cott, KMDG was brought on as one of the lead consultants from the start of the project to support programming and conceptual design of the Speedway. Construction was completed in the summer of 2021.

Project Awards

2025 BSLA Honor Award, General Design

2023 BSA Social Impact Commendation, Built Design Excellence in Adaptive Reuse*

2023 CMAA, Chapter Choice Award*

2022 The PLAN Award, Shortlist, Mixed-use*

2022 Retrofit Metamorphosis Award, Adaptive Reuse, 1st Place*

2022 Robert H. Kuehn, Jr. Award, Preservation Massachusetts*

2022 Boston Preservation Alliance, Preservation Achievement Award*

*Submitted by Architectural Heritage Foundation or Bruner/Cott

Press

Edible Boston | Nearing the Finish Line at a Dynamic Open-Air Marketplace

Boston.com | What’s in store at The Speedway, Brighton’s new open-air market

Eater Boston | Notch Brewing Opens at The Speedway

High-Profile | The Speedway in Boston Completed

Building Design + Construction | BCA Revives a historic racing complex

Commercial Construction & Renovation | Historic Racing Complex Revived

ArchitectureBoston | Shifting Gears

High-Profile | The Speedway Restoration Completed

New England Real Estate Journal | Revitalization of Charles River Speedway

Related projects