This adaptive reuse project in Jamaica Plain’s Jackson Square comprised of a historic 1890 brick building with a late 1990s-era addition, as the new home for the non-profit The Possible Zone, dedicated to advancing equity through youth entrepreneurship, education, and career opportunities.

The facility houses various collaborative and creative spaces, including workshops, classrooms, and digital fabrication labs, illuminated with playful lighting design and a range of architecturally integrated details. An array of luminous tube pendants greets visitors at the main entry, suspended in a parametrically dynamic array to accentuate the forward-thinking pedagogy of the school. These tubes flow and adapt to the changing spaces throughout the project as a consistent element, acting as a visually dominant element in some locations, while providing a luminous datum in others.

In the main connecting stair, linear accents integrated into the underside of the stair structure emphasize the tech-forward aesthetic, as a cluster of student-designed and constructed pendants hang through the multi-story space. Lam worked closely with The Possible Zone team to modify these decorative “Pangolin” pendants for commercial use, offering a chance to showcase students’ talents and celebrate their successes. Various other interesting lighting features appear throughout the project including a luminous ceiling, funky framed interior windows, and artistic domes of light in the open office.

With the new center, The Possible Zone aims to serve 1,000 city youth annually by 2026.