October 2026 High-Profile: Up-Front 9
Weston & Sampson Designs $ 20M Flood Defense for Harbor Towers
Boston – The owners of Harbor Towers on East India Row, one of the most recognizable residential properties on Boston Harbor, celebrated the completion of a $ 20 million flood resilience project on Sept. 30. Mayor Michelle Wu cut the ceremonial ribbon, and guests then toured the building’ s flood protection barriers. The project protects the buildings designed by I. M. Pei and Partners from rising sea levels and future coastal storms.
Harbor Towers, home to approximately 1,200 residents, sit directly on Boston’ s waterfront and were identified as a critical flood pathway location. The 2018 coastal storms demonstrated the property’ s vulnerability, with floodwaters reaching within inches of building entrances, porticos and other ground-level areas.
Harbor Towers property owners took it upon themselves, with no government assistance, to work with engineers from Weston & Sampson, builders from Commodore Builders, and BES, the owner’ s project manager, to protect their own property from the threat posed by flooding associated with sea level rise and coastal storm surge.
After a seven-year process, including a year of disruptive construction activities, the dry floodproofing improvements represent a major resiliency investment that is anticipated to extend the life of
Harbor Towers for another 50 years. The improvements combine above-ground and below-ground techniques in a unique approach that provides about four feet of flood protection while respecting the architectural significance of the property. Permanent and deployable flood barriers, enhanced drainage systems, waterproofing
Aerial view of Harbor Towers in Boston
measures and structural upgrades work together to create a resilient waterfront property prepared for future coastal storms anticipated through at least 2070.
The flood-resilient improvements at Harbor Towers represent a model that other waterfront property owners may need to consider as sea levels continue to rise locally, regionally and nationally.
“ The flooding of 2018 was a wakeup call. As owners, we knew that doing nothing was not an option. Protecting our homes from the growing risks of sea level rise, coastal flooding, and storm surge was essential for the safety and security of our community and for preserving the longterm value and insurability of our properties,” said Norman Meisner, a board trustee at Harbor Towers.“ This project represents a significant investment and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that Harbor Towers remains a safe, resilient, and vibrant part of Boston’ s waterfront.”
“ Waterfront communities across Boston and throughout the Northeast are grappling with the realities of sea level rise and increasingly intense coastal storms,” said Robin Seidel, resiliency design lead at Weston & Sampson.“ Harbor Towers demonstrates that existing properties can take meaningful action today to prepare for the future. The project combines innovative engineering with a flexible, long-term approach that can adapt as conditions change, helping safeguard this iconic Boston Harbor property for decades to come.”
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