The Hub on Causeway (née TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

[DZH22]

Re: TD Garden Towers

(Rendering compiled by davem)

I count 45 floors (or at least "slots" the size of floors) on top of a substantial base (4 nearly double height floors and another floor+ of whatever that grey strip will be). It looks like it will be taller than a normal 45 floor residential because of this extra unused and retail space.

I'm hoping they change the design of the office tower.

 

[stick n move]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

This rendering just came out 2 days ago, so it would be safe to say it is the most current. The entrance to the garden seems like it has been changed to open air. The building on the left is hideous and hopefully changes to something a little more traditional. Stand out design is good but only when it is classy. The building on the right has changed and I do like it better than before. I think if they got rid of the center building and made the left one wider and it was like a taller twin of the right building I think this would be much better.

 

[fattony]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

I for one really like the left (residential) tower. I think the horizontal bands accentuate the height - its not afraid to be tall. I'm curious which features you hate? The clear glass?

The office and hotel towers are VASTLY improved. Previously they vaguely almost looked like books on a shelf from one angle. Now the book-look is much stronger though not obnoxious.

 

[393b40]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

I'm guessing that big grey box on the left of the residential portion is an elevator shaft?

 

[bobthebuilder]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

its not afraid to be tall.

haha, I mean it's tall, but it's still only 600'. It's not really being brave reaching that height.

When are we gonna see a 1,000 footer?

I will say, it is a fitting height for the area, but it'd be nice to see a 1,000' tower in the financial district area.

 

[bobthebuilder]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

I'm guessing that big grey box on the left of the residential portion is an elevator shaft?

I'm inclined to think otherwise, as it doesn't go the full height of the building. The elevators are almost definitely in the middle of the building, it just doesn't make much sense for them to be on the side for a building this tall.

It kinda looks like the profile of the federal reserve, maybe they just slapped a mini fed reserve tower on the end.

 

[393b40]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

I'm inclined to think otherwise, as it doesn't go the full height of the building. The elevators are almost definitely in the middle of the building, it just doesn't make much sense for them to be on the side for a building this tall.

It kinda looks like the profile of the federal reserve, maybe they just slapped a mini fed reserve tower on the end.

It's also weirdly slightly disconnected from the building (based on shadows)... Maybe it's a piece of massing they haven't designed yet?

 

[George_Apley]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

haha, I mean it's tall, but it's still only 600'. It's not really being brave reaching that height.

When are we gonna see a 1,000 footer?

I will say, it is a fitting height for the area, but it'd be nice to see a 1,000' tower in the financial district area.

We probably will never see a 1000' tower in Boston due to FAA regs. Winthrop Square is still the best bet for something close to that.

 

[statler]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

I think it is there thanks to the Boston Alucobond Inclusion Act of 2003.

 

[JohnAKeith]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

So how tall is this thing?

 

[bobthebuilder]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

We probably will never see a 1000' tower in Boston due to FAA regs. Winthrop Square is still the best bet for something close to that.

Someone posted it somewhere in this forum, but I can't find it. I swear that there was a map posted of building height limits by the FAA showing how tall they'd allow buildings to be built, and I remember downtown being 'unlimited'

But I could be going crazy...

 

[George_Apley]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that Transnational Place was killed in the first place because the FAA poo-pooed it.

 

[bobthebuilder]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that Transnational Place was killed in the first place because the FAA poo-pooed it.

I found the map I was thinking of, and it's undersized and blurry so I likely misinterpreted ti the first time....
http://boston.curbed.com/archives/2012/08/how-high.php

and here's the article that proves what you said....

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/05/16/1000_feet_too_tall_for_hub_tower_faa_rules/?page=full

and the first link that came up when I googled...
http://www.archboston.org/community/showthread.php?t=2454


and to that I say......

[two year old tantrum]damn it! damn it! damn it! This city just wants to crush my hopes and dreams at every corner[/two year old tantrum]

 

[dirtywater]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

No one ever said they were taking off the height. The article claims 45 stories and that some members of the panel (and initially the mayor) asked for 15 stories off, meaning 30 stories. Since a 45 story 450ft building would be impossible to build (that's under 10 feet per floor given that there's retail below), I'm guessing the height is still 600 feet. 600ft is a pretty reasonable match to 45 stories.

600 feet would be a lot of height for 45 residential floors. As I believe others have suggested, the 45-story residential tower will be on top of the retail base which is several levels (judging by the renderings four levels). The 600-foot height presumably includes the 45 stories of residences, plus the several stories of retail.

 

[type001]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

I continue to be very happy about this whole thing. I did like the older version of the office component a little more, but the newer one looks just fine and gets the job done.

Maybe this will set a precedent after all.... I call for an 800-1000ft tower to replace the old Spaulding Rehab building. It's the perfect place for such a building. Right next to NS and out of the flight paths.

 

[datadyne007]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

The gray box is actually elevators. There are no plans for the upper floors in The Boston Garden PNF, but you can see on the lower floors that there is a bank of 4 elevators off to the side that serve the first 30 or so floors (judging by where the gray box ends in the renders) and then there are two express elevators and an egress stair further in the building. This is consistent with the massing in the renders.

It appears Elkus is looking to Louis Kahn for some circulation inspiration -- serving spaces vs. spaces that are being served. (<3)

 

[George_Apley]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

I continue to be very happy about this whole thing. I did like the older version of the office component a little more, but the newer one looks just fine and gets the job done.

Maybe this will set a precedent after all.... I call for an 800-1000ft tower to replace the old Spaulding Rehab building. It's the perfect place for such a building. Right next to NS and out of the flight paths.

I predict that the old Spaulding building is going to be held up for a long time. Partners wants to keep it for offices and lab space. DOT wants at least some of the building to come down to allow for North Station Track 11 and Track 12 to be connected. This won't be up for redevelopment for a while if the state and Partners end up in negotiations over the site.

 

[tmac9wr]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

^^ What are the odds of that whole area being fully developed? Including the potential movement of the Suffolk County Jail/Police Station? With Cambridge next door and booming, its proximity to the Charles, several parks, very good infrastructure surrounding it, proximity to MGH and the financial district, you could argue that these plots are among the most desirable in the city.

The aforementioned absence of flight paths and potential isolation from neighborhood groups could mean more height for any projects here too...

 

[617]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

^^ What are the odds of that whole area being fully developed? Including the potential movement of the Suffolk County Jail/Police Station? With Cambridge next door and booming, its proximity to the Charles, several parks, very good infrastructure surrounding it, proximity to MGH and the financial district, you could argue that these plots are among the most desirable in the city.

The aforementioned absence of flight paths and potential isolation from neighborhood groups could mean more height for any projects here too...

That site is surrounded by highway ramps and train tracks...doesn't seem too desireable.

 

[George_Apley]

Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End

^^ What are the odds of that whole area being fully developed? Including the potential movement of the Suffolk County Jail/Police Station? With Cambridge next door and booming, its proximity to the Charles, several parks, very good infrastructure surrounding it, proximity to MGH and the financial district, you could argue that these plots are among the most desirable in the city.

The aforementioned absence of flight paths and potential isolation from neighborhood groups could mean more height for any projects here too...

The parcels to the east of Nashua Street are all Partners owned (unless they are leasing the parking lots from the state). Old Spaulding I mentioned above, will probably not be up for grabs any time soon. Any sale of the land closer to North Station will have to involve finding somewhere else for MGH to put their employee parking, and MGH will factor that into their asking price.

I always like to say that when designing and placing the Suffolk County Jail, the state decided to build it with conversion to a hotel in mind. It worked for the old one!

While we're at it, let's work on urbanizing the West End Towers.