Cambridge Selects Ecosistema Urbano to Design New 'Cool Spots' Shade Structures for Summer 2027
The City of Cambridge has chosen Ecosistema Urbano, an international urban design and architecture studio, to design new temporary shade structures as part of its 'Cool Spots' initiative. These structures are intended to help residents stay cool during hot weather and provide welcoming spaces for community gathering. The 'Cool Spots' project, funded through the 10th cycle of Cambridge's Participatory Budgeting, aims to address the unequal impacts of extreme heat across different neighborhoods by creating comfortable, accessible, and community-centered public spaces. Ecosistema Urbano was selected through a competitive process that received 44 applications, with five finalists interviewed by a panel of city staff, industry professionals, and community members. The studio, co-founded by Belinda Tato, an associate professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, has over 25 years of experience in environmental design and participatory processes. Design work for these structures will continue through Fall a...
