Boston Properties Office Tower | 888 Boylston Street | Back Bay

Re: 888 Boylston Street

BostonUrbEx said:
I agree with more ticketing, but I think there should be more bikes, too. BPD needs to get them under control, but so long as they do that, there's no reason to have more.
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After my sojourn in india -- I just have a hankering for city streets mixing freely:

cars,
trucks,
3 wheelers with people
3 weelers with things
carts pulled by:
a) people (can also be pushed)
b) oxen
c) bikes (including rickshaws)
c) farm equipment (sometime counter to the traffic flow)
d) horses
e) an occasional cammel
f) one elephant (I'm sure that there must have been more)
g) motor cycles

motor scooters / cylcles
bicycles
pedestrains (and people functioing as bearers of burdens on their heads, backs, arms)
dogs
cows / bulls

I don't know I'm sure that I left something out

By the way they have lots of signs admonishing people to "Obey Traffic Rules", "Stay in Lane", etc -- however compliance seems accidental at best
 
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Re: 888 Boylston Street

From the BBJ: http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/real_estate/2014/01/bp-secures-tenant-for-888-boylston.html

Boston Properties appears to have secured a tenant for its yet-to be-built tower in Boston’s Back Bay, clearing the way for construction of the Hub's first new office building since Atlantic Wharf, the Boston Business Journal has learned.

Natixis Global Asset Management, a subsidiary of Natixis, the investment management and financial services arm of Groupe BPCE, has signed a letter of intent for up to 150,000 square feet office space at 888 Boylston St.

In 2008, the Boston Redevelopment Authority approved a Boston Properties (NYSE: BXP) proposal for a $192 million office building to be built in front of the Prudential building. The 16-story, 442,000-square-foot glass tower would feature offices and two or three floors of retail space across from the Apple store.

“With the signing of a letter of intent, Boston Properties would anticipate going forward with construction of 888 Boylston as retail demand for the project would be strong given the Prudential Center is one of the top shopping centers in the country,” said a person familiar with the deal.

Bryan Koop, senior vice president of Boston Properties, declined to comment.
David Snowden, vice president of public relations for Natixis’ Boston office, said he was unaware of any move and did not know how much space the company leased at its present location at 399 Boylston St.

News of the lease was first reported in the Real Reporter.
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Re: 888 Boylston Street

I'm mixed on this. On one hand infill is good, there is the possibility of expanding or supplementing the woefully overcapacity Boylston court, and perhaps a food court expansion. On the other hand, the terrace is nice in the summer (despite those stupid stairs), the plaza hosts a nice farmers market, performers, and dining for that new restaurant, and it's the only remaining good view of the Pru.
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

Was this ever going to be taller? I know it's right on the street so tall could be a little jarring, but I feel like the Pru could use another taller friend.

EDIT: just realized that it used to be shorter, and that people are freaking out over how crazy tall it is. jeez
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

davem said:
...and it's the only remaining good view of the Pru.
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Actually, I would say that there is quite a good view of it from the garden area within the mall. However, that area is usually not open when I'm there...

There's also quite a good view of it from the CSC plaza. Essentially top to bottom depending on the angle.

I am firmly against this new building. I hate the proportions and feel like it's overbearing for its location going right up to the street. Also (less importantly) it will significantly hurt the verticality of the Pru from that angle, and completely block it up close.

Is this really the kind of office space we want Boston to build going forward? What happened to all the 500'+ office towers of yester-year?

I hate this more than Tremont on the Common, Waterside Place, and an unflushed toilet put together. (but not more than I hate the bike lanes... another battle for another day...)
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

First new office tower since Atlantic Wharf?

What about the Seaport buildings (PWC, State Street)?
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

DZH22 said:
Actually, I would say that there is quite a good view of it from the garden area within the mall. However, that area is usually not open when I'm there...

There's also quite a good view of it from the CSC plaza. Essentially top to bottom depending on the angle.

I am firmly against this new building. I hate the proportions and feel like it's overbearing for its location going right up to the street. Also (less importantly) it will significantly hurt the verticality of the Pru from that angle, and completely block it up close.

Is this really the kind of office space we want Boston to build going forward? What happened to all the 500'+ office towers of yester-year?

I hate this more than Tremont on the Common, Waterside Place, and an unflushed toilet put together. (but not more than I hate the bike lanes... another battle for another day...)
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First of all, the plaza is extremely ugly. Some of it is design (the advertisement for the shopping center at the bottom of the stairs, and the fast food logos on the balcony) but most of is because this space was always meant to be filled in - for example, the blank walls on the Hynes. There will still be a setback here. I expect that Towne will still maintain its outdoor seating.
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

There'll still be a decently sized plaza

888BoylstonSt-rend1.jpg
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

A gigantic win. Activates a concrete cliff while adding density and retaining the refreshing negative space punctuating the longest continuous active street wall in the city.

Plaza is just deep enough that you can step out of the flowing current, but not so deep that activation gets drowned in the deep eddies back there now. And it thematically complete the half-century-long conversion of an uber-modernist moonscape megablock monolith into a dense and tall mixed use destination, perforated by irregular pedestrian arcade streets (and i'll grant that they're mall-ified, but not egregiously so).

Again - double-plus win. Boylston will be jaw-dropping once this, the tall CSC stuff, and the Mass Ave air rights stuff gets done.

...extra-credit: here's offering $50 at even money that someone pays for a Boston Strong memorial there, and some else proposes an airport-style taxi drop off lane right in front of it. For the record i favor neither....
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

Except from a long way away -- the Pru has always been ugly

All of the recent construction by Boston Properties has improved the Pru -- I would expect that this one will also

The only major loss is that there won't be room anymore to try to break the Guinness Book of World Records for "15 minutes of continuous Christmas Caroling" -- the last time it was attempted a few years ago Kieth Lockhart and some of the Tangelwood Festival Chorus + Rudolph and Santa stood on the top of the Terrace while the rest of us stood just outside Towne Stove -- oh well
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

CSTH said:
...extra-credit: here's offering $50 at even money that someone pays for a Boston Strong memorial there, and some else proposes an airport-style taxi drop off lane right in front of it. For the record i favor neither....
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I don't see this necessarily happening. Boston has done all it can to make sure that you can't tell where the bombs went off and make sure no impromptu memorials pop up. I'd think an official memorial right near by would fall into this same category of bringing unwanted attention to a tragedy.
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

timsox6 said:
I'd think an official memorial right near by would fall into this same category of bringing unwanted attention to a tragedy.
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Boston may be trying to bring Boylston St. back to pre-Marathon shape, but I seriously doubt it has anything to do with keeping "unwanted attention from a tragedy." The only attention that would be unwanted would be from potential future attackers looking to hit the same spot for symbolic value, and honestly anyone wanting to know where the bombs went off can find out in 5 minutes on Youtube (or Google, since all the news reports that day mentioned the stores that fronted those parts of the sidewalk). If someone is looking to mourn or remember, I don't think the city has any problem with that as long as it doesn't disrupt business or traffic.

I have no doubt that at some point there will be a memorial, probably on Copley Square somewhere. In a sense, though, the finish line itself is a memorial. Maybe nothing more is needed...
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

timsox6 said:
I don't see this necessarily happening. Boston has done all it can to make sure that you can't tell where the bombs went off and make sure no impromptu memorials pop up. I'd think an official memorial right near by would fall into this same category of bringing unwanted attention to a tragedy.
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Timsox -- There will be a Marathon Memorial as there should be -- however it should not be something of pathos -- rather it should be uplifting and positive

The Marathon Bombing Memorial should celebrate the the volunteers who saved dozens of lives; the tremendous response of the EMS and Hospitals; and the recovery of Boylston St; and the generosity of the One Boston Fund'd donors

it should be Boston Strong
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

The convention center façade comes off poorly in the context of the new development. They ought to repurpose the "under the arches" area. Just as ivy is often the architect's best friend, a beer garden would be our best friend here.
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

Anyone else think something a bit taller than 16 stories would be better here? Say 25-30?
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

mass88 said:
Anyone else think something a bit taller than 16 stories would be better here? Say 25-30?
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This is a really tough spot from a contextual standpoint. It is part of the Prudential complex, but it directly fronts the historic Back Bay Grid where the buildings all neatly plateau. It is a different case than the Pru Tower, 111, 101, etc because those are set back from the Boylston area. I'd argue that the 888 spot might not be the best place for a high tower. Boylston has a very distinct feel in that area. That plot bridges the gap between The Pru and Back Bay and middle ground needs to be reached.
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

The proposed design is so bland and dated. I really hope they come up with something more inviting than a glass box with a bulging front. It's so 2003.
 
Re: 888 Boylston Street

Arborway said:
The proposed design is so bland and dated. I really hope they come up with something more inviting than a glass box with a bulging front. It's so 2003.
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Yes, out with glass, in with Alucobond!
 
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