MCCA Springfield Civic Center & CarPark

KVA was commissioned by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) to design a five story Car Park and Public Plaza in Springfield, MA. This public project is designed to connect the Museum District, Court Square, and the Connecticut River and create a new destination that integrates Springfield’s cultural and natural resources. The urban massing provides a generous sidewalk and outdoor restaurant seating that transforms the existing Bruce Landon Way into a pedestrian lane that connects the main entrance and retail storefronts with the Mass Mutual Convention Center. This project includes ground level retail and food pavilions supporting local businesses, a landscaped plaza for outdoor community events, and a Car Park that supports future forward E-Mobility services. The Car Park has capacity for 165 EV charging stations and an extensive roof top solar array. The precast concrete structure features a central ramp with an internal light well that harvests daylight and channels roof water through a screen of rain chains. The light well connects the two main pedestrian cores and features a floor surface of recycled street curbstones. An innovative stair design and elevators serve the Lobby and a leasable Balcony Space that overlooks the performances, events, and green space activities that the Plaza supports.

Date: Jan. 2019 - Sept. 2025
Status: Completed
Client: Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
Location: Springfield, MA
Design Team:
Frano Violich, FAIA; Managing Principal
Sheila Kennedy, FAIA; Principal Consulting on Design
Ben Widger, AIA; Project Architect
Daniel Sebaldt AIA, Nick Johnson, Jitske Swagemakers, Haipeng Lin, KatieKoskey, Jing Liao, Zhicheng Xu, Adam Gordon

Architect: Kennedy & ViolichArchitecture, Ltd.
Prime Consultant, Parking Design & Structural Engineer: DESMAN, Inc.
Landscape Architect: Richard Burck Associates
MEP/FP Engineering & Code Consulting: R.W. Sullivan
Lighting Consultant: Tillotson Design Associates
Civil Engineering: Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc
Geotechnical & Environmental Engineering: O’Reilly, Talbot & Okun Engineering
Placemaking: Of Place
Graphic Design: Pentagram
Cost Estimation: Preferred Construction Management