Burlington, Mass., Nov. 24, 2025 — The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) honored the Lyrik Back Bay at Air Rights Parcel 12 development in Boston with its 2025 Outstanding Project Award. Haley & Aldrich’s Marya Gorczyca, Tyler Poggiogalle, and Aidy Ung accepted the award at DFI’s 50th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations, held in Nashville, Tennessee, Oct. 20-23.
This recognition honors a historic achievement: When it opened in 2024, Lyrik Back Bay became the first completed air rights development over the Massachusetts Turnpike in more than 40 years. The project, which is both an infrastructure and commercial development, transformed the cityscape and reconnected neighborhoods that had been divided by the turnpike for decades. Decking over the highway and tunnels for the highway and railroad lines allowed for vertical construction above.
The new development features a 20-story office tower over a two-level below-grade parking garage, a 13-story hotel, retail and restaurant space, an elevated public park, and improved highway and subway access.
DFI’s Outstanding Project of the Year Award recognizes exemplary technical achievement, innovation, and creative problem-solving in deep-foundation design and construction. Haley & Aldrich’s contributions to Lyrik Back Bay, DFI noted, “required thoughtful and creative problem solving, design excellence, careful monitoring and safe construction practice by the entire team to achieve the project goals and realize such a successful outcome.”
Working alongside the designated developer and client Samuels & Associates, as well as a large team of consultants and specialty deep-foundation contractors, Haley & Aldrich designed an innovative hybrid foundation system and support-of-excavation solution to accommodate the site’s challenges. The team also developed a comprehensive monitoring program to minimize disruption to commuters and safeguard existing infrastructure throughout construction.
“Our team overcame the complexities of building above and next to an active highway and rail corridor — a feat that required us to draw on decades of specialized experience and partnerships with local agencies,” said Gorczyca, a senior principal consultant at Haley & Aldrich. “We’re honored to receive recognition from our industry peers for a project that reconnects communities and sets high standards for urban engineering.”
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