MGH Ragon Building | 55 Fruit Street | West End

[NickolayIII]

Up close and from Cambridge, I wasn't the biggest fan of the building's design, but I didn't think it was too horrible.
However, I really dislike how the building appears from Back Bay. Essentially, just a white cube towering over smaller Beacon Hill buildings.

Slightly wider windows with a bit less paneling and a touch higher or narrower to adjust proportions would have gone a long way in my opinion.

Additionally, with the bright white paneling. Choosing a beige color would blend in better with the other MGH buildings and Beacon Hill.

 

[Boston02124]

 

[urbanmansprawler]

From the sidewalk/approach I get for-profit prison vibes from this sorry beast, and set within the broader skyline it shouts 'bland neo-brutalist box'. Finally, it looms over Beacon Hill like a giant middle finger, but that small plus really can't negate the many minuses.

 

[Charlie_mta]

From https://ultra.fandom.com/wiki/Ragon

 

[FK4]

From the sidewalk/approach I get for-profit prison vibes from this sorry beast, and set within the broader skyline it shouts 'bland neo-brutalist box'. Finally, it looms over Beacon Hill like a giant middle finger, but that small plus really can't negate the many minuses.

There's no need for that spirit. Suggesting Beacon Hill needs to be "punished" (I am guessing it's merely because you don't like that there happen to be wealthy people in the world (?) or a small contingent of same who in no way represent everyone who've opposed a bike lane (?), or whatever other reason)—is wrong. That anti-elite-masquerading-as-populism is exactly the spirit James Michael Curley used to make many decisions that were poor for the city. And many others, including the authoritarian egomaniac running this country at the moment.

In any case, the building was always going to be a disappointment and it's sad that Cambridge Street is going to basically have a long, bland institutional streetwall. That being said, it does remain to be seen what the final experience on the street is like. The lots it's being built on were parking lots or very small clinics, and this project will very likely significantly increase the foot traffic on the sidewalks of Blossom, N Anderson, and N Grove Streets, and human life does tend to make an eyesore less noticeable.

 

[urbanmansprawler]

There's no need for that spirit. Suggesting Beacon Hill needs to be "punished" (I am guessing it's merely because you don't like that there happen to be wealthy people in the world (?) or a small contingent of same who in no way represent everyone who've opposed a bike lane (?), or whatever other reason)—is wrong. That anti-elite-masquerading-as-populism is exactly the spirit James Michael Curley used to make many decisions that were poor for the city. And many others, including the authoritarian egomaniac running this country at the moment.

In any case, the building was always going to be a disappointment and it's sad that Cambridge Street is going to basically have a long, bland institutional streetwall. That being said, it does remain to be seen what the final experience on the street is like. The lots it's being built on were parking lots or very small clinics, and this project will very likely significantly increase the foot traffic on the sidewalks of Blossom, N Anderson, and N Grove Streets, and human life does tend to make an eyesore less noticeable.

We don't know each other, dude, I'll say whatever I'd like in whatever spirit I'd like, and you'd best stay in your lane.

 

[shmessy]

We don't know each other, dude, I'll say whatever I'd like in whatever spirit I'd like, and you'd best stay in your lane.

FK4 in no sense intimated you couldn’t voice your opinion. Don’t be so afraid of your ideas being challenged and debated in an open setting such as this. The give and take is enlightening.

 

[Boston02124]

 

[taketern]

 

[taketern]

 

[kz1000ps]

 

[BeeLine]

As of 7/26.

 

[goody]

I believe the technical term for this is "a turd."

 

[shmessy]

I believe the technical term for this is "a turd."

Hey, Jeremi is back!!!!!!

You may be right, but it helps the conversation if you could explain WHY you think it's a turd.

 

[citydweller]

Can someone explain or add a link to a previous post explaining the need to preserve this building? thx

 

[goody]

Hey, Jeremi is back!!!!!!

You may be right, but it helps the conversation if you could explain WHY you think it's a turd.

Haha, fair point. Well, I don't really think this building has a good angle or side. I find the massing is both oppressive and awkwardly broken up with different step backs and materials. It hulks over the street, and even more so over the poor Winsor School feature. The fenestration, lack of glazing, materials, and color choices are giving "vent building/louver" vibes. The white panels, which I think are metal, are pretty glaring, and I have little faith that they will age well. Unfortunately, it even looks like a fortress on the skyline.

 

[shmessy]

Haha, fair point. Well, I don't really think this building has a good angle or side. I find the massing is both oppressive and awkwardly broken up with different step backs and materials. It hulks over the street, and even more so over the poor Winsor School feature. The fenestration, lack of glazing, materials, and color choices are giving "vent building/louver" vibes. The white panels, which I think are metal, are pretty glaring, and I have little faith that they will age well. Unfortunately, it even looks like a fortress on the skyline.

Well said - thank you!

 

[Stlin]

One of the things I think is possibly overlooked is that despite looking pretty finished, what we're looking at is still a temporary interim condition - they still have to build all of phase 2. Notably, the more prominent Western face, the side that faces the river on what was North Anderson st, isn't what it's going to look like from the river. As it stands, that wall of the eastern tower is going to be facing its shorter sibling, and thus concealed by it from the Longfellow & river. That facade mirrors the facade on Blossom, and does appear to include substantially more glazing.

I'm not going to comment on the materials, nor am I saying this is a necessarily a good design to build from, but I'm also going to refrain on the whole from judging it as built until it's finished.