Winthrop Center | 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

Re: Winthrop Square Garage Being Demolished

KentXie said:
In case you're wondering what the height is:

"The Project’s zoning height of approximately 664 feet (710’ AMSL) is consistent with the operating guidelines provided by Massport and the technical review provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has set various points of the Project site at 701-720 feet AMSL. The Project’s height fits within this upper limit to avoid any operational changes in departures or arrivals at Logan International Airport. The FAA is currently conducting its public review period for this Aeronautical Study (see Attachment A). The zoning height will be used throughout the remainder of the document to describe the height, except as noted."

So this will be shorter than MT.
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Check page 40 and there's a 25' mech.
 
Re: Winthrop Square Garage Being Demolished

Lol so does this still need to be in the “Winthrop sq. garage being demolished” thread.

At first I was pissed when I saw this. Then I realized it’s been chopped down so much by everybody that it’s not even tall anymore so really it’s just another crappy infill building so whatever. The govt ctr garage is going to be the show piece when looking across the harbor, this will barely be seen. Sucks to suck. Were going to live in a world where 1 post office square looks 100x better than this. That extra part of this that forms a T now makes this even wider meaning the more massing will make it appear even shorter.

I don’t understand how you look on ssc at what’s going up in nyc and buildings that won’t ever be noticed in the sea of buildings there look like masterpieces yet one of our prime parcels in downtown gets another clashing “way too much going on” kitchen sink building. We’re getting too many of these mish mash clashing buildings lately. Also how can you change this much from the design that won approval? That’s unfair. They did mention a few times though that wasn’t the final project but I didn’t think that meant it would change 100%. This is insanity. If you change it do it for the better.... not a hard concept. Or just take Accordias old design.



If it’s true this will be shorter than MT...thank god. The shorter this is the better. I’m perfectly fine with MT being the crown of downtown, not this. MT has proven itself and it looks great. If they keep this design hopefully we can get another 150’ chopped off before it’s built.
 
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Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

I'll leave the other thread open for garage demo pics.
 
Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

Not sure what I think about this. The original design would have looked like crap being cut down so much. This tower is just meh. Hopefully it's like the Millennium Tower and looks better in person then in pictures.

Also I wish these towers would have a retail portion at the bottom. No retail seems crazy for a project of this size.
 
Re: Winthrop Square Garage Being Demolished

stick n move said:
If it’s true this will be shorter than MT...thank god. The shorter this is the better. I’m perfectly fine with MT being the crown of downtown, not this. MT has proven itself and it looks great. If they keep this design hopefully we can get another 150’ chopped off before it’s built.
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It's not true. While page 28 says it's 664', page 40 mentions the 25' mechanicals. So this will be between 689'-691'. While that's only a few feet taller than MT, keep in mind that MT gains 8' from the difference between Washington Street and Hawley Street, and also slopes up to a corner. So technically MT's highest corner is only 677' above Washington, while the slope gives it the impact of a building closer to 650'.

So basically this big new boxy abomination is, in fact, going to appear to be (and just plain be) the tallest building downtown.

Remember, please write to casey.a.hines@boston.gov to express your disapproval!
 
Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

This is bad. Is there anyone who thinks this is an improvement over the original? What's the point of even including renders in the original bids if they're going to throw them out so thoroughly.

I appreciate the use of the copper/gold accents (a copper tower on our skyline could work great) but that's about it.

I have absolutely no clue what they're going for with some of these facade details. Why does the upper facade stop four stories from the roof? What's up with those awkward horizontal rectangles two stories from the roof? Is that strange little headhouse really necessary on the lower roof? Why can't the same facade treatment be carried all the way up the "armit" of the "T"?

In the Building Elevation - East (Figure 7-6) I count SIX facades, plus the facade for the "grand hall"... Why?

It's like they took inspiration from Elkus's trademark "facades in a blender" look, only they executed it way worse than any of his projects...
 
Re: 111 Federal St. | Formerly Trans National Place (Winthrop Square) Part 2

I was ok with the original Handel design. But this.... this is a mess.

It still angers me that this is what we could've gotten:

stick n move said:
160608_02.jpg
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Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

I'm disappointed by the new grand hall. The grand hall in the old design was much better.

The new one, it's a nice lobby, nothing more.
 
Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

Hahaha, this is hilarious - in a sad way. How bold and savage the changes are. You guys are getting almost 700 feet of offset windows.
 
Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

Hopefully the BCDC intervenes.
 
Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

Thing is, the other proposals would have been VE'd too.
 
Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

So since they jacked up the great hall do we get that mandated observation deck back? I’m serious, that was the deal. They reneged we should get our part back. Matter of fact just scrap the whole thing and start over. That T that goes up the whole tower I’d imagine is a way to make up for the lost space when it was cut down. So now the tower has horrible proportions because of the shadow people. Before it was thinner at the top leaving a good aspect ratio, that’s ruined now. Thanks guys. I hope the nimbys are happy they got rid of a shadow that was going to barely be there and now they have a huge eyesore and ruined skyline to look forward to. I wonder which they prefer? For every action (complaining about minimal shadows) has an unequal and horrendous reaction (turd on skyline). For real I wonder if the nimbys prefer a 24/7 ruined historic skyline vs a couple hours of shadows. If they’re happy with this result they’re terrorists and should be treated as such. This day sucks. Had a horrible day that culminated with changing a tire on Morrissey blvd in 10 degree weather than come home to this. Fml. At least 1 post office square is a huuuuge win and sadly that former turd is gonna blow our new (supposed to be crown jewel of Boston) out of the water. F this. I pray there are more design reviews to come before this is built, which judging by history does usually happen. Help us obi wan your our only hope.
 
Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

stick n move said:
So since they jacked up the great hall do we get that mandated observation deck back? I’m serious, that was the deal. They reneged we should get our part back. Matter of fact just scrap the whole thing and start over. That T that goes up the whole tower I’d imagine is a way to make up for the lost space when it was cut down. So now the tower has horrible proportions because of the shadow people. Before it was thinner at the top leaving a good aspect ratio, that’s ruined now. Thanks guys. I hope the nimbys are happy they got rid of a shadow that was going to barely be there and now they have a huge eyesore and ruined skyline to look forward to. I wonder which they prefer? For every action (complaining about minimal shadows) has an unequal and horrendous reaction (turd on skyline). For real I wonder if the nimbys prefer a 24/7 ruined historic skyline vs a couple hours of shadows. If they’re happy with this result they’re terrorists and should be treated as such. This day sucks. Had a horrible day that culminated with changing a tire on Morrissey blvd in 10 degree weather than come home to this. Fml. At least 1 post office square is a huuuuge win and sadly that former turd is gonna blow our new (supposed to be crown jewel of Boston) out of the water. F this. I pray there are more design reviews to come before this is built, which judging by history does usually happen. Help us obi wan your our only hope.
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Jesus. Relax.

But yes this is similar to the Seaport. With height restrictions boring boxes are needed to generate required return on investment. It's just in a much more prominent spot.
 
Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

A lot of my post was exaggeration mixed with truth. Yes I went off but some of my points were very valid. Since the great hall is not what was promised do we get the observation deck back? The great hall was their reasoning for leaving out the mandated observation deck. Mandated is the key word. Hopefully we find out about this.

Also I don't think Im too out of line for asking what would you rather have? A shadow in the winter for 3 hours or an eyesore on the skyline permanently. If they really care about the city this is a valid question to ask.

Also someone mentioned this is going to be shorter than MT, if thats the case thats the best news there is. MT honestly does a perfect job of being the center piece from most vantage points. I would not mind at all if it stays that way it is an incredible tower. This would be fine as another filler piece albeit tall, that supports MT in its role. If thats the case it wont be too bad. MT needs the crown lit though if this is going to be its role.

Also then you have the GCG office tower as the focal point of the harbor view so the view across the water is going to be great as well, also enhanced by 1 POS newly lit crown after the redesign.
 
Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

Well...like the Great Hall. The rest though is an incoherent, psychotic mess. WTF?
 
Re: Winthrop Square Garage Being Demolished

DZH22 said:
Hey Mr. New York City, don't take shots at the rest of us when you won't be the one stuck looking at this every day.
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All the new tall towers being built in NYC are fucking hideous and boring and I have to look at them every day. And given how this forum functions I'll be seeing pictures of this every day too.
 
Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

No way. Maybe some of the supertalls, but there are at least a dozen mid rises that are extremely high quality. Most arent built yet so maybe you mean whats gone up so far, but my mind is blown at how high quality many of the proposals are. Then as far as supertalls the Steinway tower and Tower Verre are two of the nicest buildings Ive ever seen in any city anywhere. I dont want to go off track and go find them but they are on SSC. There are tons of them and they are very very high quality. Check the mid rise section of the forum + Steinway and Verre.

As far as this tower goes if they fix the top, remove the T, and get rid of the curvy thing at the bottom there is potential there. The facade looks good besides those parts. Hopefully there are still a couple design changes left in the tank that will tie this whole thing together and make it all work. Fingers crossed. There is still potential here. Whats the official height to the very top?

Also most of the curvy thing on the bottom will be blocked by other buildings so your mostly going to see the top half which is a good thing. Then when looking across the water its not tall enough really to stand over 1IP so you shouldn't really see the T part either so maybe within the skyline it will look ok. We shall see but thats good.
 
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