As the owner of over 6 million square feet in the Boston suburb of Lawrence, Massachusetts, Lupoli Cos. has in the past 20 years redeveloped millions of square feet of abandoned mill space.
As part of the company’s bid to bring economic improvement to Lawrence, a city that’s said to have a poverty rate far above the U.S. average, Sal Lupoli, Lupoli’s president and chief executive, had envisioned for years the concept of office and retail space along with an idea that many thought was unconventional: put a regulation-size field for football, soccer and lacrosse on top of a brand-new parking structure overlooking the Merrimack River.
Fast forward, Lupoli’s vision, called the Pavilion, took shape in 2019, and by early summer, construction had begun. While the developer had to put many of its projects on an indefinite hold after the pandemic forced a nationwide shutdown, Lupoli Cos. worked closely with then-Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and his team to make sure the project stayed on schedule.
The development finally opened for business in September, with the athletic field booked seven days a week. Lupoli donates the field to the city-based youth football and soccer teams while many private organizations rent it for different events.
The Pavilion has now become the focal point of Lupoli’s broader Riverwalk Innovation District development with the turf field its “true gem,” the company said on its website.
The project won a 2023 CoStar Impact Award for the best commercial development in the Boston market as judged by real estate professionals.
About the project: The Pavilion, located at 282 Merrimack St., is a six-story, 80,000-square-foot office property. Lupoli’s Riverwalk development sits on 46 acres along the Merrimack River and includes both residential and commercial projects among others.
What the judges said: The Pavilion "has given Lawrence residents the opportunity to enjoy an outdoor sports field within city limits where a majority of residents don't have the means to travel outside of the city to enjoy the same amenities,” said Drew Kirkland, senior associate of Northeast Private Client Group.
They made it happen: Gerry-Lynn Darcy, senior vice president of real estate at Lupoli, was a key person involved in the project.
