As we welcome 2026, we’re grateful for the partnerships, ideas, and shared momentum that shaped the year behind us—and energized by what lies ahead. At Arrowstreet, every project begins with curiosity and is guided by the belief that design has the power to anticipate change, spark opportunity, and move ideas forward.
Each snowflake in this year’s series is formed from the work we’ve created together, reflecting the individuality of each project and the strength of the collaborations behind them. Through collaboration, imagination becomes reality as we continue to Design for What’s Next.
Here’s to 2026 and the exciting projects ahead. We’re grateful for your partnership and look forward to everything we’ll create together.
One Milestone
One Milestone represents a new chapter for research, collaboration, and sustainability in Boston. Conceived as a gateway to Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus, the project is as much about connection as it is about discovery. The two interconnected buildings frame an active ground plane where science, daily life, and community intersect. From advancing low-carbon construction through first-of-its-kind material testing to shaping a walkable, mixed-use district along a new public greenway, One Milestone reflects our belief that the future of innovation depends on environments designed to bring people together and anticipate what comes next.
The Guild Garden at Plainville Square
The Guild Garden at Plainville Square began with a simple but powerful idea: invest in community first. Working with author Jeff Kinney, we are helping reimagine Plainville’s town center as a long-term civic legacy. The Guild Garden, opening this spring, is a temporary installation designed to spark gathering, play, and possibility. It sets the stage for future phases that include restaurants, a new public park, and expanded cultural uses. Grounded in the belief that temporary interventions can catalyze lasting activity and investment, the project demonstrates how small moves can unlock long-term community transformation.
Little Folks Daycare
What began as an overlooked alley became an opportunity to invest in the everyday lives of children and families. Through Arrowstreet’s Environmental Design Group (EDG), our non-profit affiliate, the Little Folks Daycare project reimagines a forgotten outdoor space as a joyful, safe, and expressive place to play. Created hand-in-hand with daycare staff, children, and community volunteers, a hand-painted mural anchors the design and gives visibility and pride to the street edge. More than a playground, the project reflects our belief that even the smallest interventions can shape stronger neighborhoods and that designing for what’s next sometimes starts with giving kids room to imagine.
Bambola & The Girl Next Door
Bambola & The Girl Next Door is a story about reinvention and duality. When a familiar neighborhood restaurant reached a turning point, we helped imagine not one new identity, but two. Behind a concealed threshold, Bambola unfolds as an indulgent, Italian villa-inspired escape, rich with drama and allure. Just next door, The Girl Next Door offers warmth, ease, and approachability. Together, the spaces create a layered hospitality experience that invites guests to choose their mood, linger longer, and return often. It is a reminder that designing for what’s next in hospitality means crafting places that feel both transportive and deeply human.
Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School
At Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School, renewal becomes an investment in the future of a community. The transformation of a beloved 1965 school is not just about updating space, but about creating an environment where students can thrive as learners, collaborators, and neighbors. Classrooms open up to support exploration and shared discovery, while new indoor and outdoor spaces encourage movement, connection, and play—recognizing that how children learn is constantly evolving. By reimagining what a neighborhood school can be, Lincoln-Eliot supports its students today while strengthening the community for generations to come.
21 Charles
At 21 Charles, mass timber becomes both structure and experience. Exposed wood, daylight-filled homes, and all-electric systems create a sustainable, human-centered approach to multifamily living just steps from Malden Center, pointing the way toward what’s next in housing. Designed to reduce embodied and operational carbon, the building demonstrates how climate-conscious construction can also deliver warmth, comfort, and quality of life. Active ground-floor uses and strong transit connections further reinforce a vision for housing that is resilient, connected, and built for the long term.
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