Benevolent Associations have helped Chinese immigrants settle in America for more than a century. Not only do they harness Chinese American collectivity for a voice in local governments, but they also offer classes and social services to new arrivals. Yet unlike missionaries intent on conversion, Benevolent Associations operate without the need to shed existing identities and beliefs. These Associations service immigrants’ liminal state and teeter to fulfill Chinese and American expectations. In other words, Benevolent Associations see thresholds as hospitable conditions unto themselves.

The Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England’s new building manifests thresholds under urban, programmatic, and tectonic conditions. Straddling Chinatown’s border, the structure frames and reinforces the iconic Chinatown gate. Meanwhile, by moving what is typically at the center of Chinatown to its periphery, the Association opens itself up for a reciprocal relationship between insiders and outsiders. Just as new immigrants learn English to venture beyond Chinatown, others can learn Chinese for opportunities in Chinatown.