Re: 111 Federal St. | Formerly Trans National Place (Winthrop Square) Part 2
I think it's pretty likely that HYM will win, and I don't mind. The tower is quite striking from the narrow sides, and interesting from the slabs (and different on each side). It's derivative of the One Congress office tower, which is interesting because they have different architects, but apparently HYM wants to establish a visual brand. They also have the best ground level of any proposal, pulling from the Rudolph building into the mid-rises, and the church is cool.
Downside: Loooooong timeline because of the multiple phases - not done until 2023. HYM has made us wait before.
Lendlease (not "Landlease") is attractive and cool, but that's a design studio, not a serious proposal. They don't expect to win. If they somehow do, they need to fix the ground level, and why the heck is the observation deck halfway up? I mean, I know why - they don't want to build the public elevators any higher - but don't half-ass it. Either do it or don't.
Accordia has great massing but terrible colors, and somehow the whole thing comes out looking boxier than it actually is from every angle. I suspect they dropped the rust because it would clash with the ubiquitous (and silly) tree platforms. Those will be VE'd out eventually, so just drop them now and change the color back. Most of all: You had a great proposal and you reduced it in every way. What the hell?
Trinity got better, but still isn't there. Their proposal document looks amateurish.
Trans National has two boring towers for the price of one boring tower, and keeps selling the combined site without actually doing anything with it. It actually hurts them in this round because the other proposals have pass-throughs, multiple footprints, and public spaces on the ground floor, while they've closed it all up. Also, the exterior of the ground-level looks like it belongs in Waltham.
I think I would like the Millennium proposal in isolation (it's got a Chase Tower in Chicago vibe), but the massing is awful. It only has one good side. I actually liked their proposal from last year better, and honestly, it's a lobby. Call it a lobby.
