"The earlier plan was designed on the assumption that a building as quiet and recessive and deferential as possible would be seen by the community as being most appropriate," Cobb said.
Listening to the complaints of commissioners and the public, Cobb said he realized his judgement was mistaken.
"They implicitly invited an architecture less recessive, more innovative, more assertive," he said.
The redesigned center will include the same facilities as the previous scheme. But many of the commissioners have already said they like its appearance much better.
"I think the building is just a much more interesting building for this particular edge of our neighborhood," said Steven Cohen, the vice-chair of the board.
But some Cambridge residents say the commission has pledged its support too hastily.
"I would have hoped that the commission would have listened to the neighbors before expressing this much pleasure with the approach," said John Pitkin, who heads the Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Association. "It's hard to react to a design that's not fully fleshed out."