BSA Commonwealth Award

Eligibility

The individual, group, concept, or object (other than an architect or a building) has influenced significantly our built environment or our awareness of it. Prospective recipients might be a public agency, a public policy, or a private developer/user who encourages good design. Also eligible would be such diverse candidates as a publication or an outstanding education program.

2024 Recipients

UMassBRUT and Rose Kennedy Greenway

UMassBRUT

UMassBRUT is a multidisciplinary campaign designed to reshape perceptions of the Brutalist architecture of the University of Massachusetts system and to advocate for the conservation and renovation of these historic and internationally significant buildings.

After years of individual endeavors on each campus to promote its Modernist architecture, UMass Dartmouth and UMass Amherst joined forces in 2019 to create UMassBRUT, a collaborative advocacy group of faculty members, staff, students, alumni, and interested parties. UMass Boston and UMass Lowell joined the effort in 2023.
UMassBRUT celebrates, preserves, and re-images mid-century Brutalist public architecture across the UMass System by sponsoring public and scholarly activities and events that promote the importance of these architectural icons and highlight the critical need to preserve them now and for future generations.

The Rose Kennedy Greenway

The Rose Kennedy Greenway is a contemporary public park in the heart of Boston and one of the most visited attractions in the Commonwealth, welcoming millions of visitors annually. The Greenway is managed by the Greenway Conservancy, a non-profit responsible for the administration and care of the park. The Conservancy creates a welcoming, engaging, and restorative environment for the entire community by providing beautiful, and organically maintained, lawns and gardens all year long. Visitors to the park can also explore a variety of family-friendly attractions and play spaces, including The Greenway's six fountains and the one-of-a-kind Greenway Carousel at The Tiffany & Co. Foundation Grove. A visit to The Greenway allows guests to participate in free, community-driven events and programs hosted in the park, which is also home to a rotating selection of temporary exhibitions of contemporary public art, featuring murals, sculptures, and other installations. Through the dedicated service of The Greenway's Park Rangers, the Conservancy is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all who enjoy the park.

The majority of the Conservancy’s annual budget is made up of generous donations from the community, and it is with their support that the Conservancy cultivates a gathering space where all are welcome and celebrated.