Commerce Place Plaza

Shadley Associates provided design services to master developer Preotle Lane and Associates for the public plaza in front of their building “Commerce Place” in Malden, Massachusetts. Located at the intersection of two busy downtown streets, the existing plaza was an uninviting and dated space with an expanse of exposed aggregate paving and few places to sit. The owner was interested in bringing a contemporary update to the plaza as well as having it function better for the needs of his tenants.

Shadley Associates’ design enlarged the existing curbed planters, wrapping them around new seating areas which provided a feel of separation from the sidewalk and street. A new concrete pavement surface was designed that engaged the building’s geometric features with a complementary range of warm, earth-toned patterns. Site improvements included 8 teak benches, trash receptacles, and ash receptacles located at a covered area of the plaza, newly designated for the population of smokers in the building. Seasonal planting recommendations were provided for the planter areas at the request of the owner.

The construction of the plaza improvements was completed in 2007. The comfortable and sunny entry plaza is now crowded every nice day of the year.