THE RISE OF INNOVATION DISTRICTS

BOSTON: INNOVATION DISTRICTRe-Imagined Urban AreaRed Line to Downtown Boston,Cambridge, Harvard UniversityWEWORK+ GENERAL ASSEMBLYVERTEXPHARMACEUTICALSBLADEZIPCAR HQFACTORY 63ONE MARINA PARKINSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTDISTRICT HALLSEAPORT WORLDTRADE CENTERBLUE HILLS BANKPAVILIONBOSTON INNER HARBORBOSTON LOGANAIRPORTFRAUNHOFER CSEBOSTON CONVENTIONAND EXHIBITION CENTERBOSTON DESIGN CENTERHQ BOSTONMASSCHALLENGEDRYDOCK SHARED LABS1/4 mileRed Line to UMass Boston,Quincy, DorchesterIn 2010, former Boston Mayor Tom Menino outlined abold vision for a Boston Innovation District, arguing,“There has never been a better time for innovationto occur in urban settings ….”Reconnected to the city with the “Big Dig” and BostonHarbor Cleanup projects, Boston’s once-isolatedSeaport is transforming into a hub of innovationand entrepreneurship. While lacking a world-classresearch engine or an established cluster of firms,a powerful regional knowledge base combined withgood infrastructure provided a strong foundation forgrowth. Since designation, more than 200 technology,life science and other companies have movedinto the District, adding over 6,000 jobs.Several unique assets have helped to create whatis now a dynamic, collaborative environment. Mass-Challenge, the world’s largest startup accelerator,provides shared office space and no-strings attachedgrant financing to startup firms from around theglobe. District Hall is the world’s first public innovationbuilding, providing civic gathering space for theinnovation community. And Factory 63 is an experimentin “innovation” housing, offering both privatemicro apartments and public areas for working,socializing, and events.Success has wrought growing concerns about affordability.Private investment is expected to add thousandsof housing units over the next few years.20