VHB has begun working with the City of Boston on a new coastal resilience project focused on the Mario Umana Academy campus, a K-8 public school in East Boston. The effort will explore strategies to reduce flood risk in the surrounding neighborhood while improving public space and community infrastructure on-site.
The project is identified as a key element of the City’s broader Climate Ready Boston initiative, which identifies long-term strategies to protect vulnerable coastal areas from sea level rise and storm surge. As the City advances neighborhood-specific resilience solutions, the area surrounding Mario Umana Academy has been identified as a critical location where flood pathways could impact nearby homes, streets, and community facilities.
Located in a low-lying coastal area of East Boston, the school and surrounding open spaces are susceptible to flooding during major coastal storm events. VHB’s role will focus on evaluating design options that can help reduce these risks while maintaining the usability and character of the site. This project has the added complexity of balancing public access with student safety.
The project team is currently conducting an alternatives analysis to determine the most effective approach for protecting the area. Potential strategies under consideration include raising existing seawall structures, elevating portions of open spaces, or implementing a combination of shoreline and landscape-based solutions.
Because successful coastal resilience solutions often need to cross multiple properties and infrastructure systems, the planning process will evaluate how flood protection measures can integrate with the surrounding neighborhood. Solutions may include modifications to existing public spaces that both improve storm protection and enhance recreational opportunities for the community.
At this early stage, VHB is collaborating with City partners to assess existing site conditions, understand flood pathways, and identify feasible design alternatives that balance engineering performance, environmental considerations, and community needs.
The alternatives analysis will help guide the next phases of design, providing the City of Boston with a framework for implementing resilient infrastructure that protects critical community assets like Mario Umana Academy.
Learn more about VHB’s climate resilience and coastal infrastructure work.
