28 replies to this topic

[atlrvr]

Boston Properties won the bidding war and will develop the property with the same mix as approved by the BRA with office, condos, and retail.  Here is the latest rendering from today's Globe.



Steve Bailey's article was very critical of this design, which hasn't changed much, it just lost it's mini-turret and spire.  I'm ok with it, nothing wow.  It reminds me of 33 Arch, which I like.  It doesn't seem to compliment the existing warehouse that much, and looks sort of perched on top of it.  On the positive, it will likely be the first new office tower completed in Boston, so hopefully it will result in a boost in jobs.  Also, the retail should enliven that stretch, which is sort of dead.  The IC has helped, but those WIDE sidewalks always feel empty.

[tombarnes]

The older buildings look as though they are about to be devoured by the tower.  I don't think there has been any attempt to join them in any meaningful way.  Sorry, but it looks clumsy.

[atlrvr]

Walked down around the Russia Wharf site today....things are definitely coming along.

A shot from across the channel.


Some closer up shots.





And what's this?  Is that the base of a tower crane?  I think it is!

[atlrvr]

Here is a much larger rendering from an angle I don't think has been shown before....this would be probably from close to where I took my first photo from.  I'm guessing this rendering would be from Summer St. across the channel.



It definitely reminds me a a slightly dressed up 33 Arch St., which is fine by me, since I like that building a lot.  I do think the transition from brick to glass it a bit "harsh", and could probably be integrated better if some vertical metal slats were added near the top of the warehouse in some sort of crazy art-deco fashion.

[Cotuit]

I don't know, in a way I like that the brick part is allowed to just sit there and not have to be integrated, but it does look a little awkward.

[atlrvr]

This building sort of reminds me of a building going up in Charlotte....to help blend the glass upper with the brick lower facade, they extended the glass curtain all the way to the street level in a portion....of course the building in Charlotte is all new construction, so it's much easier, but it would be pretty cool if they extended the metal cross beams and glass down along Congress St to create an entry atrium.

[atlrvr]

The old rendering on the left, the newest (just released) rendering on the right.

Ugh....what a huge step back.  The last one was a bit awkward, but this thing is just BORING!

Apparanatly Boston Properties changed it in response to some criticism.....this is what happens when we get design by committee....watered down crap.

BP may also increase the amount of office space and reduce the amount of condo units in response to a shifting market.

[atlrvr]

THey aren't going to be demoing any of the exterior facades, though the interiors of two of the buildings will be pretty much gutted.

[atlrvr]

In today's Herald, it is rumored that most of the office tower may be preleased by Wellington Management.  It was implied that this could help speed the rate at which the tower is built.

http://business.bost...ticleid=1017489

Hopefully they will demand a better design than the last disaster presented.