Redesigning Prudential Tower

Easiest access to shaws from the pru is actually through Saks Fifth Ave. As long as you ogle that $800 white button down shirt as you go, you're fine.

With the food court closed I was really hoping shaws would up its game in prepared foods. The thin crust roman pizza has always been good, but I've consistently found the hot bar disappointing.
 
On that same vein, I'd love to see two things:

Better western entrances to the complex: Other than the convention center - only entrance on Boylston, there's no good general entrance along the entire face from Gloucester almost to Huntington.

Pedestrian bridge over Huntington at Copley Square: land it in the plaza between Huntington and Blagden, and turn Blagden into a service-vehicles-only road with a raised pedestrian crossing. Makes access to Copley Square, the library, and the Green Line a lot better both for Prudential Center users and Back Bay passengers. I think you could build the bridge so as to not ruin thhe lines of the library building.
 
This thread getting bumped me realize how much I still love The Pru. It's under appreciated by some and hated by many but I still think it's one of the best buildings on the skyline and definitely defines Boston. I like it more than I like the JHT.

The facade could use a thorough cleaning though.
 
I'm not crazy about the Prudential's skin, but what I think is under appreciated is the height to width ratio. It's gotta be the slimest tower in the city by that standard right? From two angles it looks fairly slim, from two others a little less so but still decent
 
meddlepal said:
This thread getting bumped me realize how much I still love The Pru. It's under appreciated by some and hated by many but I still think it's one of the best buildings on the skyline and definitely defines Boston. I like it more than I like the JHT.

The facade could use a thorough cleaning though.
Click to expand...

I believe that the facade probably needs more than a cleaning... it is probably about at design life (or past it). My understanding is that the construction is aluminum channel, with glass and fiberglass panels. Those do not last forever.
 
Shepard said:
Easiest access to shaws from the pru is actually through Saks Fifth Ave. As long as you ogle that $800 white button down shirt as you go, you're fine.
Click to expand...

Coming from Copley Place using the pedestrian bridge, I use the exit next to Cheesecake Factory and then cross the street to Shaws in front of Saks.
 
JeffDowntown said:
I believe that the facade probably needs more than a cleaning... it is probably about at design life (or past it). My understanding is that the construction is aluminum channel, with glass and fiberglass panels. Those do not last forever.
Click to expand...

I work in the building. I gotta say, it really is "night vs day."

Looks awesome at night, up close during the day though, yikes. The pale green panels (no idea what material) could definitely be replaced with some navy blue or steel grey panels.
 
Navy blue would be a cool look and would add a nice pop of color steel grey would be too blah imo.
 
I like the Prudential tower, always have. The 1960s window pattern looked dated in the 1980s and 90s, but that mid-century modern stuff is popular again and this should be preserved.

Overall, I can't imagine and would not want a Back Bay skyline without the Pru the way it looks now. Yeah, it has a certain plain ugliness to it. But projects itself boldly into the sky with its robot head and prominent corporate sign.
 
NJBostonFan said:
Recently, I have been looking at the Prudential Tower and how ugly many people say it looks. I have also been looking at Tom Dolle's 1986 proposal to redesign the facade of the Prudential Center and does anybody think it would work today? Or would something different be done, like redesigning the facade in glass like 7 World Trade Center or in limestone. For those who haven't heard of it, here's an excerpt of it from Boston Magazine:



Here are some pictures of the proposal:
76082000_5d0b0b38cd_o.jpg


IMG_3566.JPG


IMG_3569.JPG


IMG_3523.JPG


Discuss.
Click to expand...

^^^While I think this building design proposal was rather hideous, I think that Boston Properties could tastefully re-skin the tower, and add a cool looking taller and illuminated crown on top, and the PRU could perhaps displace the JHT/200 Clarendon tower as the crown jewel of the Boston skyline...(woohoo)...and the FAA wouldn't even mind! (not that I dislike 200 Clarendon at all) Plus a new taller Pru would re-center it in the skyline with 1 Dalton coming nearby, which will be similar in height as the current Pru when it's done, upsetting the skyline symmetry. A taller Pru would create a new Back Bay "peak".
 
Or we could leave it alone and not fuck with one of Boston's most iconic buildings for the sake of making the skyline look pretty from Mt. Auburn.
 
meddlepal said:
Or we could leave it alone and not fuck with one of Boston's most iconic buildings for the sake of making the skyline look pretty from Mt. Auburn.
Click to expand...

The pru is more aesthetically pleasing than 90% of the other towers in Boston. You should level the financial district before touching the Pru.
 
I agree its one of the rare brutalist buildings that is ugly in a good way if that makes sense. Brings a sort of grit and grime to the city instead of a bunch of polished glass everywhere. You need contrasts and the Pru does it well. A lot of brutalist buildings used too much concrete, exterior elevators, and a bunch of other stuff that dates very fast. The Pru essentially is a regular box with a crown and a surprisingly detailed facade that all comes together to look pretty good. Its also pretty unique for how simple it is and its instantly recognizable. I hope it is never recladded into glass I hope if its ever recladded they just restore it.
 
The Pru is not Brutalist architecture it is International Style.
 
stick n move said:
I agree its one of the rare brutalist buildings that is ugly in a good way if that makes sense. Brings a sort of grit and grime to the city instead of a bunch of polished glass everywhere. You need contrasts and the Pru does it well. A lot of brutalist buildings used too much concrete, exterior elevators, and a bunch of other stuff that dates very fast. The Pru essentially is a regular box with a crown and a surprisingly detailed facade that all comes together to look pretty good. Its also pretty unique for how simple it is and its instantly recognizable. I hope it is never recladded into glass I hope if its ever recladded they just restore it.
Click to expand...

^Without pretending to be an expert on this issue, I do believe that the Prudential building would not be classified as Brutalist architecture. I think the more accurate term would be Modernism, wouldn't it? I thought Brutalism derived from the term Beton Brut, which is French for "raw concrete". The lack of a predominantly concrete façade makes me believe it is not considered Brutalist architecture. I'm sure I'll hear about it if I'm wrong. :)
 
Just saw the post about it being "International" style. Guess I was wrong.
 
International Style is the correct term.

The most common characteristics of International Style buildings are said to be: i. rectilinear forms; ii. light, taut plane surfaces that have been completely stripped of applied ornamentation and decoration; iii. open interior spaces; iv. a visually weightless quality engendered by the use of cantilever construction. Glass and steel, in combination with usually less visible reinforced concrete, are the characteristic materials of the construction.[1]
Click to expand...
International Style Architecture Wikipedia

The Pru uses the grid of rectangles and glass and metal panels to create its facade which is a very good example of the late International Style. Other examples include the Seagram Building in NYC and the PSFS Building in Philly.

lapratadom you aren't wrong International Style is seen more as an early subset of Modernism.
 
I keep saying this a million times. Polish the aluminum mullions, replace the energy-crisis mirrored glass with clear glass, and repaint/replace the teal panels. Basically just clean the tower. It would look fabulous, and is one of the best examples of its time period.
 
davem said:
I keep saying this a million times. Polish the aluminum mullions, replace the energy-crisis mirrored glass with clear glass, and repaint/replace the teal panels. Basically just clean the tower. It would look fabulous, and is one of the best examples of its time period.
Click to expand...

I think you will find that the aluminum channel and teal (fiberglass composite I believe) panels are well past design life. They will need to be replaced, not just buffed up.
 
The Pru is one of the finest examples of the '60s, bordering on great. The Pan Am is not a good example, as it is well past hideous.... Random useless thought: for a future mixed use box, 'd love to see a 750~780' Onyx, Seagram Building type of thing.... maybe near the Pru or Govt Center/State Service Ctr parcels.

https://youtu.be/ZyyuflY5k2k
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top