Hall of Fame Nominees

[briv]

Members are encouraged to nominate an existing building, park or piece of infrastructure in the Boston area that they believe makes a positive, integral contribution to the built environment. These deserve special recognition and possess attributes worthy of emulation in future projects.

There will be three new inductees.

Last year's winners:
New John Hancock
Christian Science Center
Rowes Wharf

 

[unterbau]

I suggest that we carry over all nominations from last year

 

[Ron Newman]

Post Office Square Park

The Design Research building on Brattle Street, Cambridge (looks lovely right now with the fake D|R store exhibit in it)

The small but intensively used brick plaza in the center of Davis Square (outside JP Licks)

 

[CDubs]

Jill Brown-Rhone Park in Central Square, Cambridge. It hasn't been around very long, but it's completely transformed that intersection at Main St, Columbia St, and Mass Ave into a magnet for social, culinary, and musical activity.

 

[armpitsOFmight]

I nominate the Brewery in JP. This is a perfect example of how all urban malls should be built. Retail/food/non-profit/for profit businesses include Mike's Gym, Ula Cafe, the new Bella Luna, Bikes Not Bombs Headquarters, Boomerangs donation center, Sam Adams Brewery, and other small businesses.

 

[unterbau]

Harvard Square Red Line/Bus station. Although it's a little run down and dark in parts, it's easily one of the most successful stations in terms of handling the enormous capacity required for the area. It successfully integrates food and souvenir businesses, and allows for lots of meeting space both above and below ground. I mean, even the vents look great.

 

[unterbau]

Regarding the historical/modern HOF debate that was going on last year: I think the problem is that we already know buildings like Trinity Church/State House/BPL deserve to be in the Hall of fame, so our votes lean towards the more controversial choices we support.

 

[crash575]

I second the Jill Brown-Rhone Park in Central Square, Cambridge. It has really changed the intersection for the better.

 

[briv]

Did Jill Brown-Rhone Park open this year?

 

[CDubs]

JBR Park opened somewhere around August 2008.

 

[cden4]

Fanueil Hall Marketplace (as touristy as it is, it works)

 

[statler]

I'll keep nominating these until they win damnit!

Custom House Tower (How this building wasn't a first ballot winner I'll never know)

Ames Building (Now even better!)

Winthrop Building

 

[found5dollar]

I second the Winthrop building.

and would like to add the Lagoon Bridge in the Public Gardens. it's the world's smallest suspension bridge... come on.

 

[Ron Newman]

The Hatch Shell. (Can you tell by now that I have a strong bias towards live performing arts venues?)

 

[statler]

Now that I think about it I believe we agreed (for some reason) to keep the Hall of Fame open to only post-war buildings.

Something about how pre-war buildings don't make for good examples for modern developers. So if that is still the rule, I'll withdraw my noms.

 

[Ron Newman]

OK, then, I'll withdraw the Hatch Shell (though it was extensively renovated in the 1980s or 90s). But let's keep Faneuil Hall Marketplace, as its 1970s makeover changed it into something quite different from what it had been before.

 

[CDubs]

Holyoke Center in Harvard Square. Some say it's ugly, but I think it works near-perfectly on that spot.

 

[kennedy]

Design Research
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Apple Store
Channel Center (does this count, since some phases I believe are still under construction?)

 

[DZH22]

I second the Custom House tower. It was the tallest in the city for 45 years, has amazing detailing, a nice outdoor observation deck, and the lighting at night is pretty spectacular. It's my second favorite building in the city, and just screams "BOSTON!" whenever I see it. This is for sure a hall of fame building

 

[bdurden]

Commonwealth Avenue from Arlington to Mass Ave