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Downburst said:
Hey, all.

I'm sure some/most of you are familiar with Minecraft. I'm going to attempt building some scale models of Boston developments in Minecraft, but I need help with dimensions. Heights, of course, are easy, but length and width elude me, and I've been searching for over an hour already trying to find the Pru's dimensions.

Does anyone have any potentially helpful information here? Direct measurements or resources I could use? I'd be really appreciative.
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If you download Google Earth there is a measurement tool. Its not 100% but its the closest you're going to find outside of downloading the AutoCAD models of the city from the BRA.
 
Downburst said:
....I've been searching for over an hour already trying to find the Pru's dimensions.

Does anyone have any potentially helpful information here? Direct measurements or resources I could use? I'd be really appreciative.
Click to expand...

The vast majority of the Prudential Center complex is on 30-foot structural bays, and the tower measures 5 x 6 bays, or 150 x 180 feet:

bostoncpru10grid.gif


(Image originally from Mandarin Oriental documents, with the grid superimposed by me)
 
^Great work KZ, but the Pru Tower's grid is a bit different. 150'x180' appears to be accurate though, based on the SketchUp model.

Here's another another image of the Pru's structural grid... also courtesy of KZ from one of my favorite threads ever made on this board.

The Tower is 7 bays wide and 5 bays long, but notice the bays are rectangular and not actually square too.

img2398ws0.jpg

**This image is from a redev. proposal so other areas are not quite accurate to the way it was built today.

Downburst:
The official Google Earth/SketchUp model for the Pru is here: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=8d840d12794ea9a545172f70efed474&ct=3dbl&hl=en

Likewise, you might also be interested in the New Hancock: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=e80a78fed333dd57fdf530202abbbc9d&ct=mdrm
 
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Wow, you're absolutely correct! I can't believe I forgot about that difference.

So to get overly pedantic about it, the tower has its own grid of 5 x 7 within a 180' x 150' footprint, respectively, meaning its structual bays are 36' by about 21' 5"....interesting.
 
This is fantastic! Thanks, guys.
I ended up measuring the model in Google Earth and I think I was only about a meter off on both sides- and these plans are helpful for the rest of the center, too.

Much appreciated! Would you guys like to see progress every once in a while?
 
The rectangular bays are dictated by the size of the elevators and their corresponding lobby clearances necessary. The plan is really quite beautiful. Modernist to the T.

And downburst, yeah I'd love to see updates... I should probably just start playing Minecraft anyways...
 
The first round of progress pictures from my Minecraft Prudential Center. A work in progress! Let me know what you think and any suggestions you might have?

Facade:
facadework.jpg


From the Winter Garden:
basefromcourtyard.jpg


(Although I doubt that I will be making more of these as they take forever)
A typical (column-less) office floor:
officefloor2.jpg


And a wider view:
afullerview11513.jpg
 
Uhhh, can we get a day shot please? It's so dark!! =P

The base looks cool though. We don't see the base anymore because of the new Prudential Center. There was actually a pretty dramatic bridge over a water feature that lead into the lobby which was behind a thin glazed curtain wall... UBER modernism. Just gorgeous. This aspect is sadly lost in the redevelopment of the Pru.

bostoncpru1960ishrtower.jpg


bostoncpru19641028north.jpg
 
I never knew about the courtyard and lobby! Oh my god, I prefer it so much to what it is now in those photos. What a masterpiece.

Here's your day shot :)
basefrp_cpurtyardday11513.jpg
 
^The first is actually a rendering. It never looked like that. The plaza was a huge barren, windswept failure.
 
If you ever actually tried to walk or shop in the old, pre-mall Prudential Center, you would not miss it today. The mall made the space actually useful and pleasant to be in.
 
datadyne007 said:
^The first is actually a rendering. It never looked like that. The plaza was a huge barren, windswept failure.
Click to expand...

Actually, it did look pretty much like that throughout the 60's! (Decorate your office with Atomic furniture.)

Nice Corvette picture. Too bad they don't price the cars so that younger drivers can afford them. Now mostly only old guys like me can buy them, so that they scream mid life crisis.
 
Ron Newman said:
If you ever actually tried to walk or shop in the old, pre-mall Prudential Center, you would not miss it today. The mall made the space actually useful and pleasant to be in.
Click to expand...

I have no doubt... I prefer the old yard aesthetically, although I do enjoy the current courtyard for comfort.

When was the center remodeled?
 
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