Our monthly Longwood Happenings newsletter is the perfect way to get important, streamlined information about the LMA sent straight to your inbox. From travel advisories to upcoming Outside// events and everything in between, our newsletter has you covered! We'll keep you up-to-date on all you need to know about the Longwood Medical and Academic area.

Click her for our September edition which highlights our Placemaking Playbook, newly installed bike racks, and more.

A Message from the President 

Dear Longwood, 

I am pleased to share with you a new White Paper that the Longwood Collective published this week entitled, “Playbook for Placemaking in a Medical and Academic District,” which tells the story of how our biggest hospitals in Longwood came together to invest in the Outside// placemaking program for the benefit of the district’s 73,000 employees, 3.8 million annual patient visits, 24,000 students, and visitors.  

The Playbook is intended to serve as a guide for other academic medical centers and teams involved in Business Improvement Districts on the steps it takes to create a series of modern and exciting programming activities, and the impact it has on audiences in a predominantly medical setting by increasing happiness and leading to higher worker satisfaction.  

As you may know, Outside// began as a pilot program in 2019 to activate private spaces of our member institutions, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, along with BioMed Realty. Since that time, it has become a beloved program in the LMA that last summer welcomed 18,000 lunchtime visitors, hosted 2,700 people to special events like dog petting and free concerts, increased the number of activated sites, and expanded programming through the winter months.  

The activations offered in Longwood include a range of live music performances, food trucks, art installations, book and game carts, dog petting, outdoor furniture, and other free, publicly accessible amenities. But more importantly, they offer connection, healing, and even moments of joy, which are precious gifts to be able to give to the workers, students, visitors–and especially the patients–in a medical district like the LMA. As one LMA cancer caregiver put it, “The majority of my patients are hospitalized for months on end. Sometimes, taking them outside is the only thing that makes them feel human.” 

We hope that this White Paper will serve as a helpful tool for other areas who look to Longwood as a source of inspiration in how we’ve taken the culture of healing wellness and extended it beyond the four corners of our healthcare buildings. 

Regards,

David Sweeney

President and CEO

New Bike Rack Installations in Longwood

We recently expanded bike storage capacity and convenience in the LMA with the installation of 34 new bike racks from the City of Boston's Transportation Department. These post-style racks, accommodating up to two bikes each, are the result of collaboration between the City of Boston and Longwood Collective’s Area Planning Department. 

Thank you to our members who assisted with siting locations and reviewing proposals. We’re proud to now have this expansion of neighborhood amenities available to our commuters.

LMACCC Graduation

In June, the Longwood Medical and Academic Area Child Care Center was excited to honor this year’s class of preschool students who graduated from the LMACCC. We are so proud of their intellectual and emotional growth and wish them the best in their next chapter. Thank you to family and friends for your incredible support all along this journey. 

New Art Mural on Blackfan Street

Have you had a chance to explore the new sidewalk mural on Blackfan? We're thrilled to have worked with CultureHouse, in partnership with Boston Children's Hospital, to craft this vibrant installation of overlapping paths. It's designed to inspire playful movement for workers, patients, and visitors of all ages and abilities. We encourage everyone in the LMA to stop by.

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Bike Longwood: Complimentary 15-minute Service Appointments 

Longwood Collective has teamed up with Landry’s Bicycles to take the bike service appointment out of the bike shop and into the district! Now through the end of September, students and employees in the LMA can take advantage of free 15-minute service appointments across nine locations in the district. Keep an eye out for our signs and services on most Thursdays, 9am-4pm.  View the full Bike Longwood schedule and host locations.

MBTA Updates Near the District 

Red Line

• Shuttle buses are replacing service between Alewife and Kendall from through July 28. On weeknights from 8:30 PM to end of service, and all day on weekends, shuttles will extend to Park Street. Riders can use Commuter Rail at Porter.
• Shuttle buses are will be replacing service between JFK/UMass and Kendall/MIT with the exception of Park Street and Downtown Crossing from August 19-25.

Blue Line

• Blue Line service is free to ride through August 5 during the Sumner Tunnel Closure.

Green Line

• Green Line B branch service will be suspended between Boston College and Babcock street from August 2-11. Free and accessible shuttle bus service will be available.

Sumner Tunnel

• The Sumner Tunnel will be closed seven days a week from July 5 to August 5. During this time, traffic will be diverted through other signed detour routes.

Let Electric BLUEbikes Fill Gaps in Your Commute

Considering commute alternatives during this summer's MBTA transportation improvements? Enjoy a $10 ride credit compliments of Longwood Collective and test ride, BLUEbikes, including the newly released Electric BLUEbike. Simply download the app, and load code, “LongwoodMBTA” into the Rewards section. 

MASCO Services Call Center wins ATSI Award of Excellence

The MASCO Services Inc. Call Center, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Longwood Collective, recently won the 2024 Association of TeleServices International (ATSI) Award of Excellence, recognizing MSI’s commitment to call excellence and quality standards. The award was presented by the ATSI, the industry’s Trade Association for providers of telecommunications and call center services including telephone answering and message delivery across North America and the UK. 

Read more about the award and the Call Center here.

Longwood Medical Area Child Care Center Discount

The Longwood Medical and Academic Area Child Care Center (LMACCC) is now enrolling for full-time and part-time care for children ages two months to five years. With programs designed to promote each child's self-confidence and self-esteem, the LMACCC provides a caring, supportive, and safe environment.

The LMACCC is offering a special promotion for families who enroll between August 1st and October 31st - providing 10% off their child's first 3 months of care. Visit the LMACCC website to learn more or call (617) 632-2755.

ReCharge America Electric Vehicle Showcase 

Longwood Collective invites LMA employees, students and visitors to join us at the Shapiro Plaza (located on the corner of Brookline Avenue and Longwood Avenue) from 11am-3:30pm on Tuesday, July 23rd. In collaboration with ReCharge America, we have gathered vendors across the electric vehicle industry to showcase the latest vehicles and technology. Learn about the latest electric cars from area dealers. For those who commute on two wheels, Landry's Bicycles will be in attendance offering complimentary 15-minute tune ups as part of our Bike Longwood series!

Longwood TMA will be at the event offering free electric BLUEbike test rides and giving out $4 JP Licks gift cards to the first 50 attendees, so be sure to stop by our table.

Longwood in the News

Massachusetts hospitals may be changing, but they're still some of the nation's best, per US News & World Report

Boston Globe

The latest hospital rankings by U.S. News & World Report, released Tuesday, include Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital among its “honor roll” of the 20 best care facilities across the country. It’s the sixth year in a row that the two hospitals, which are both owned by Mass General Brigham, have been awarded such a distinction, which recognizes the strength of their various specialties and services.

Boston Children's Hospital completes first partial heart transplant in New England

Boston Globe

Surgeons at Boston Children’s Hospital completed a successful partial heart transplant on May 13th, the first so-called partial heart transplant in New England. This life-saving and cutting-edge operation is designed specifically for children and has changed the life of one four-year-old New Jersey boy and his family.

New surgical technique and bionic limb developed at MIT and the Brigham allow for more natural movements

Boston Globe

A small clinical trial published Monday in Nature medicine showcased the power of a new approach to amputation. The surgery preserves muscles in the intact part of the limb that are capable of conveying key sensory information to the brain. It’s designed to replicate the experience of having intact lower limbs and to allow for a more natural walking gait.

Researchers Customize AI Tools for Digital Pathology

Weill Cornell Medicine

Scientists from Weill Cornell Medicine and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston have developed and tested new artificial intelligence (AI) tools tailored to digital pathology—a rapidly growing field that uses high-resolution digital images created from tissue samples to help diagnose disease and guide treatment.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum presents two powerful LGBTQ+ exhibitions

GBH

The Isabella Stewart Garner Museum is presenting two powerful exhibitions that capture the LGBTQ+ experience. The exhibitions, “Portraits From Boston, With Love” and “On Christopher Street: Transgender Portraits By Mark Seliger,” are on view through Sept. 3.

Mass Eye and Ear researcher explains link between weight loss drugs, blindness

WCVB

Researchers at Mass Eye and Ear give new insight into research that shows an association between popular drugs used for weight loss and a rare form of blindness. According to this new study from Mass Eye and Ear, there is a moderately elevated risk for blindness for users of Wegovy and Ozempic.

Dana-Farber Seeks to demolish Joslin building for new 300-bed facility

Boston Business Journal

The Boston cancer hospital filed its Institutional Master Plan with the city, outlining its plan for the $1.7 billion new facility it plans to build with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

BU pivots on real estate plan with new president coming aboard

Boston Business Journal

The proposal still includes a new school of global studies and major renovations to Warren Towers and Mugar Memorial Library. But gone, at least for now, is a new dorm tower and a new science and engineering research building.

BPDA Approves Net-Zero Emissions Requirement for New Projects

Bisnow

The Boston Planning & Development Agency board of directors approved a zero-carbon zoning initiative that would push new developments to comply with the city's carbon emission goals when they first open, according to a release from the BPDA. The new policy, which still needs approval from the Zoning Commission, would set a net-zero emissions requirement for developments filed after July 1, 2025, that have at least 15 units or a minimum of 20K SF.