A Little Cooler is a shade structure project - part of the City of Cambridge’s “Shade is Social Justice Program” - that aims to use the power of art and design to shape perception, strengthen communities, and help alleviate heat risk by exploring imaginative solutions to the problem of heat islands throughout the city, and by incorporating interactive community elements. This project is a test case for circular construction at the intersection of low carbon design, communities and human impact, workforce development, and municipal oversight.
The pavilion will feature a canopy of banners co-designed with community members, including youth groups, basketball teams, and local residents, each banner reflecting the neighborhood’s stories and identities. Beyond its physical presence, the project serves as a hub for public engagement, hosting programming tied to events like Cambridge’s Annual Hoops & Health Basketball Tournament. “A Little Cooler” in Hoyt Field (Cambridge, Massachusetts) interprets “cooler” in three ways: creating a shaded gathering space, mitigating global warming by reducing carbon emissions in construction, and providing a literal water cooler (expanding public infrastructure and programming).