The Project

Union Square, where Cambridge and Somerville meet, offers a rich mix of restaurants, artisan boutiques and craft breweries and is close to Harvard and MIT. The transformation of the neighborhood, with a newly-opened public transit extension and related business and residential growth, prompted the developer to introduce an upscale hotel to the stretch of road linking Union Square with equally busy Porter Square. CambridgeSeven’s design responds to the bustling urban context with a rhythmic façade, cut and angled to offer oblique views up and down Somerville Avenue. Situated close to the sidewalk and bike lanes, the hotel becomes part of the lively streetscape and helps to unify the connection between the two neighborhoods. Additionally, the striking, sawtooth-shaped exterior is comprised of high-density laminated wood panels and a high-performance glazing system. The new Cambria hotel features a local restaurant that enlivens the public realm, a swank lobby and lounge for cozy co-working, game and fitness rooms, and guest rooms with exciting urban views.