Avalon Exeter | 77 Exeter Street | Back Bay
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bigeman312
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
Not that it's that important, but out of curiosity: how tall is this now that it is topped off? 296 feet? Is it taller than Liberty Mutual?
Not that it's that important, but out of curiosity: how tall is this now that it is topped off? 296 feet? Is it taller than Liberty Mutual?
Joe_Schmoe
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
I think the city has exceeded its quota for this style of window.
I think the city has exceeded its quota for this style of window.
Czervik.Construction
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
kz1000ps
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
I usually dislike the "colossal order" look with double-height windows but here it does no harm, and actually I like how it stands out from Copley.
I usually dislike the "colossal order" look with double-height windows but here it does no harm, and actually I like how it stands out from Copley.
Czervik.Construction
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
I agree, not generally a fan of the double height windows, I think it makes buildings look shorter, but here it works well.
I agree, not generally a fan of the double height windows, I think it makes buildings look shorter, but here it works well.
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
The Colossal Order really makes it look much shorter than it actually is. I was stunned a little while back on this thread when everyone was celebrating this as the "tallest newly-constructed tower." It looks so short because of those windows.
I should add that the fact that it looks shorter is a win because it allowed a tower of that height to get built there. Who knows what it would have been chopped down to if they hadn't rendered the windows like that.
The Colossal Order really makes it look much shorter than it actually is. I was stunned a little while back on this thread when everyone was celebrating this as the "tallest newly-constructed tower." It looks so short because of those windows.
I should add that the fact that it looks shorter is a win because it allowed a tower of that height to get built there. Who knows what it would have been chopped down to if they hadn't rendered the windows like that.
kz1000ps
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
Those blades up top should be hawt. And notice how there are vent panels in between...the interplay of silver Alucobond (yeah yeah I know) and shadowy grilles should add a good dose of moodiness to this one.
Those blades up top should be hawt. And notice how there are vent panels in between...the interplay of silver Alucobond (yeah yeah I know) and shadowy grilles should add a good dose of moodiness to this one.
Downburst
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
Agreed about the windows- it's impressive how much taller this looks when you view this from the narrow side, or when the windows aren't to visible.
The top of this is going to look pretty classy.
As for demolishing the other towers- they're very well integrated into the space, as I understand. Big parking garages below, which might make them expensive and very inconvenient to demolish. I personally would like and wouldn't be surprised at a reclad at some (perhaps far future) point, however. They could use them.
Agreed about the windows- it's impressive how much taller this looks when you view this from the narrow side, or when the windows aren't to visible.
The top of this is going to look pretty classy.
As for demolishing the other towers- they're very well integrated into the space, as I understand. Big parking garages below, which might make them expensive and very inconvenient to demolish. I personally would like and wouldn't be surprised at a reclad at some (perhaps far future) point, however. They could use them.
Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
How expensive would a reclad be? I don't think (or want) them to be demolished (we need the housing) but I agree they are very ugly. How expensive could it be to just replace the exterior with all glass?
How expensive would a reclad be? I don't think (or want) them to be demolished (we need the housing) but I agree they are very ugly. How expensive could it be to just replace the exterior with all glass?
Czervik.Construction
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
Careful, you may end up with this (3 Columbus Circle):
It looks kind of silly.
Careful, you may end up with this (3 Columbus Circle):
It looks kind of silly.
dshoost88
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
One of my coworkers lives in the Avalon tower immediately behind the Mandarin and the Legal Seafood Prudential Center. He said that the management is trying to get younger tenants to come in, so they are changing the name to AVA at the Prudential Center and updating the building. Not sure if they're doing exclusively interior renovations or also exterior renovations, but at least it's a move in the right direction.
One of my coworkers lives in the Avalon tower immediately behind the Mandarin and the Legal Seafood Prudential Center. He said that the management is trying to get younger tenants to come in, so they are changing the name to AVA at the Prudential Center and updating the building. Not sure if they're doing exclusively interior renovations or also exterior renovations, but at least it's a move in the right direction.
Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
I appreciate you pointing out an example of where what I am talking about has been done before. In this case like kz1000ps it would be a welcome improvement. Of all the buildings in the city I think these towers along with 225 Franklin could really use an all-glass reclad.
In the case of 3 Columbus Circle and the Edward Stone building next to it, I don't think a reclad was necessary. I actually just learned a couple of weeks ago about the reclad of the Metlife Tower in NYC in the early 60s. I kept wondering why the building looked beautiful in all of the old pictures but was underwhelming upon seeing it in person (and seeing it in recent pictures). Such an architectural crime!
Careful, you may end up with this (3 Columbus Circle):
It looks kind of silly.
I appreciate you pointing out an example of where what I am talking about has been done before. In this case like kz1000ps it would be a welcome improvement. Of all the buildings in the city I think these towers along with 225 Franklin could really use an all-glass reclad.
In the case of 3 Columbus Circle and the Edward Stone building next to it, I don't think a reclad was necessary. I actually just learned a couple of weeks ago about the reclad of the Metlife Tower in NYC in the early 60s. I kept wondering why the building looked beautiful in all of the old pictures but was underwhelming upon seeing it in person (and seeing it in recent pictures). Such an architectural crime!
kz1000ps
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
The Columbus Circle examples made my blood boil...the lollipop museum going away was one thing, but then to attack the classic 1920s brick pile behind it was too much. Still pisses me off when I go by it.
The Columbus Circle examples made my blood boil...the lollipop museum going away was one thing, but then to attack the classic 1920s brick pile behind it was too much. Still pisses me off when I go by it.
Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
NYC development overall is hugely depressing. It's a constant tale of developers targeting great old pre-war buildings, razing them and then either having empty holes for a very long time or building the cheapest pre-fab/concrete or all-glass crap you can imagine. Entire swaths of the Garment District (the most Gotham distillation of New York in one neighborhood) are getting knocked down for cheap hotels. Nearly sickening to observe NY development.
Boston has it much better these days - both in terms of where we develop (i.e., relatively few masonry pre-war buildings get razed) and in terms of what we develop (quality on balance is a LOT higher vs. New York, where the big-money starchitect projects get the ink but 80% of development is crappy cheap-o hotels).
Per kz1000ps, a recladding of the Prudential Center towers (minus the Pru itself) would be a good move in this case - unlike in the NY case.
NYC development overall is hugely depressing. It's a constant tale of developers targeting great old pre-war buildings, razing them and then either having empty holes for a very long time or building the cheapest pre-fab/concrete or all-glass crap you can imagine. Entire swaths of the Garment District (the most Gotham distillation of New York in one neighborhood) are getting knocked down for cheap hotels. Nearly sickening to observe NY development.
Boston has it much better these days - both in terms of where we develop (i.e., relatively few masonry pre-war buildings get razed) and in terms of what we develop (quality on balance is a LOT higher vs. New York, where the big-money starchitect projects get the ink but 80% of development is crappy cheap-o hotels).
Per kz1000ps, a recladding of the Prudential Center towers (minus the Pru itself) would be a good move in this case - unlike in the NY case.
armpitsOFmight
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
^have you seen Waterside Place?
Also, the Pru is ugly and needs a major Madonna-like facelift.
^have you seen Waterside Place?
Also, the Pru is ugly and needs a major Madonna-like facelift.
Downburst
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Re: Avalon Exeter (formerly New Tower(s) Planned For Prudential Center)
Armpits, while I agree with you 100% about the atrociousness of Waterside Place, at least it didn't replace some gorgeous old building that used to be there. It replaced a whole lot of nothing.
I'd argue that the Pru needs a good bath more than anything, but I'd love if they could "restore" the panels somehow- though that might fall under the facelift/reclad you speak of.
Armpits, while I agree with you 100% about the atrociousness of Waterside Place, at least it didn't replace some gorgeous old building that used to be there. It replaced a whole lot of nothing.
I'd argue that the Pru needs a good bath more than anything, but I'd love if they could "restore" the panels somehow- though that might fall under the facelift/reclad you speak of.