Proposed But Never Built

meddlepal said:
Gotta imagine if the MassDOT Parcels 12-15 projects succeed then Columbus Center will be resurrected in some form within a handful of years after since the template for modern Pike air-rights development will be a more known quantity.
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I definitely remember reading a story that this is back in planning/selecting a new developer.
 
It would be amazing if that happened along with 12-15 on the other side. Throw in the almost done development at 0 Kneeland, and the parcels by Reggie's Park and the entire run there is really getting stitched up/back together from the highways. All that would remain would be the ~4ish blocks from Castle Square over to the old Herald site. If all the rest of these actually get done (and profitably) this cycle, I would think it would give a nice blueprint to get those last couple covered and finally knit things back together.
 
stick n move said:
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And to imagine how this block would look with Liberty Mutual's tower anchoring the other end... such a shame..
 
^^Someone said the tower in the render already looks dated.
My GOD; if only this could have gotten built and looked dated....
i imagine we've all heard someone say 'the Pru looks dated.'
LOL. So does MOSES.
You know, the guy who led Israel out of the Desert.
 
Been on a tear revisiting Postmodernism (it sure beats 99% of what's getting churned out today) and I came across this rendering for an early proposal for 101 Federal, dated to 1982 and by the same architects--Kohn Pedersen Fox--as the final product. Note it clearly overlaps onto the public garage site and probably would've contained a solid one million sq ft.

Anyone know the backstory here? The economy was booming in the mid-'80s, so why did this project get downscaled so much?

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80's architecture done right. Handsome building it would have been.
 
That doesn't look like anything ever built (that I can think of). I'm not sure if it would be horrid looking or cool.
 
They should build that right now in another part of the city. Government Center, closer to North Station, or maybe even Kendall. Top it with some sort of hat. I like it.
 
odurandina said:
all due respect, Sir, that's kinda ghastly.
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It certainly comes from the overblown side of Pomo. But hey, I never said I liked it ;)

tysmith95 said:
That doesn't look like anything ever built (that I can think of). I'm not sure if it would be horrid looking or cool.
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On the contrary, Kohn Pedersen Fox produced a LOT of stuff in the '80s which looked like that. For instance, this is Tower Fifty Seven in NYC, pretty much a concave doppleganger for the Boston proposal:

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It looks like they were trying to out-Philip Johnson Philip Johnson's more monstrous post-1970s postmodern uglies (500 Boylston, International Place, etc)
 
Roxxma said:
It looks like they were trying to out-Philip Johnson Philip Johnson's more monstrous post-1970s postmodern uglies (500 Boylston, International Place, etc)
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Am I the only one who really likes International Place? It's one of my favorite skyscrapers in Boston.

The middle (shorter) building has some pretty ugly and dated looking windows. But the two circular buildings are pretty good looking in my opinion.

And 500 Boylston is interesting. I wouldn't call it ugly. It brings some good variety to Boston architecture.
 
kz1000ps said:
Anyone know the backstory here? The economy was booming in the mid-'80s, so why did this project get downscaled so much?
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I could be mistaken, but I believe Fidelity was the intended anchor tenant for this proposal and they pulled out.

I prefer the more understated version that was ultimately built, though it would be better with another thirty-or-so floors. It's very "Gotham City."
 
tysmith95 said:
Am I the only one who really likes International Place? It's one of my favorite skyscrapers in Boston.

The middle (shorter) building has some pretty ugly and dated looking windows. But the two circular buildings are pretty good looking in my opinion.

And 500 Boylston is interesting. I wouldn't call it ugly. It brings some good variety to Boston architecture.
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I don't mind the shorter of the two buildings at IP at all, but the Palladian Palace is probably one of the ugliest high rises in North America. 500 Boylston is so cheesy that it inspired the Cheesecake Factory.
 
From the City of Boston Archives Flickr page. Proposed but not built, waterfront edition.

Several (mid-rise) towers that never got built, among other things.

I couldn't see these anywhere on the forum so hopefully not dupes.


Architectural model of waterfront district looking southwest by Boston City Archives, on Flickr


Architectural model of waterfront district looking east by Boston City Archives, on Flickr


Architectural model of waterfront district looking northeast by Boston City Archives, on Flickr


Architectural model of waterfront district looking southwest by Boston City Archives, on Flickr


Rendering of waterfront district looking west by Boston City Archives, on Flickr
 
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Nice one, John.

A stubby tower at Long Wharf, another in the “spite park.” And in the distance, a prehistoric glimpse of the South Station Tower.

Did you come across the Josep Luis Sert schemes, one on the North End waterfront, the other for the South Station air rights?
 
Here's a sweet one. The 1969 proposed Route 2 interchange at Alewife Brook Parkway. The view faces north. Route 2 to Lexington goes off to the left. The Red Line extension curves west towards Belmont/Waltham instead of Arlington. I grew up about two blocks from this location.

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