Seeing as these are the 2 most visually significant towers of our boom to date, and the first towers in 40 years to surpass 200 meters, I think it's time for us to put them up against each other.
Please note this is for TOWER vs TOWER, so we are leaving off the ground floor activation. The site locations are extreme apples to oranges so lets concentrate instead on the architecture and the significance to the Boston skyline. Pictures are welcome!
IMG_9743 by David Z, on Flickr
Millennium Tower - 2016, first tower in over 40 years to surpass 200 meters, still the tallest downtown, right in the heart of downtown crossing. I love everything about the tower itself except for the open roof. The reflective glass and black lines on top strongly evoke the Hancock. Location was originally supposed to go only 495' (albeit rescue a historic outside wall), then lowered to 420', raised to 600', 606, 625', and finally ended up being 685' in a very welcome surprise!!! Due to its design, this building has "best" and "worst" sides to it. I would say it looks the best from the North/West, as long as the open roof isn't really noticeable. It has some more awkward angles from the south and east.
IMG_9776 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_2585 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_1286 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_7389 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_4963 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_4976 by David Z, on Flickr
A bit more awkward angle from the East.
IMG_9936 by David Z, on Flickr
Oh, that open roof!
IMG_9215 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_5792 by David Z, on Flickr
1 Dalton - Technically still completing, although maybe opened in 2019. Rivals the Pru and Hancock and has created a "Big 3" scenario in the Back Bay. The triangular shape and rounded glass are top notch, and the cladding is very likely the highest quality on any tower in the entire city. Personally, I'm a huge fan of the dark, brooding look to it. The aspect ratio for a Boston tower is flat out amazing, and it looks fairly consistent from most angles. I'd say it looks the best from the west, especially the Fenway area and driving in on the Pike, as it is the nearest and most dominant of the Big 3 from there. It does ruin some postcard views, such as the way it crowds up behind the Pru from the Longfellow Bridge, and disappears completely behind the Pru in other views, such as from Chelsea. It has created an awkward dynamic from more angles than MT has downtown, but the tower itself always looks good. The lack of lighting at the top is a disappointment, same as MT.
IMG_2181 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_2175 by David Z, on Flickr
Next 2 show the stunning way these 3 now line up from the West. This is by far my favorite aspect of the skyline addition.
IMG_9952 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_2140 by David Z, on Flickr
So thin, tall, and vertical.
IMG_2151 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_1966 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_1555 by David Z, on Flickr
Kind of creating a new Back Bay plateau. Just wait until they announce a flat roof 780' or something. It would be nice to see 1 tower break this plateau, but it's so typically Boston.
IMG_1554 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_0531 by David Z, on Flickr
Please note this is for TOWER vs TOWER, so we are leaving off the ground floor activation. The site locations are extreme apples to oranges so lets concentrate instead on the architecture and the significance to the Boston skyline. Pictures are welcome!
IMG_9743 by David Z, on Flickr
Millennium Tower - 2016, first tower in over 40 years to surpass 200 meters, still the tallest downtown, right in the heart of downtown crossing. I love everything about the tower itself except for the open roof. The reflective glass and black lines on top strongly evoke the Hancock. Location was originally supposed to go only 495' (albeit rescue a historic outside wall), then lowered to 420', raised to 600', 606, 625', and finally ended up being 685' in a very welcome surprise!!! Due to its design, this building has "best" and "worst" sides to it. I would say it looks the best from the North/West, as long as the open roof isn't really noticeable. It has some more awkward angles from the south and east.
IMG_9776 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_2585 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_1286 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_7389 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_4963 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_4976 by David Z, on Flickr
A bit more awkward angle from the East.
IMG_9936 by David Z, on Flickr
Oh, that open roof!
IMG_9215 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_5792 by David Z, on Flickr
1 Dalton - Technically still completing, although maybe opened in 2019. Rivals the Pru and Hancock and has created a "Big 3" scenario in the Back Bay. The triangular shape and rounded glass are top notch, and the cladding is very likely the highest quality on any tower in the entire city. Personally, I'm a huge fan of the dark, brooding look to it. The aspect ratio for a Boston tower is flat out amazing, and it looks fairly consistent from most angles. I'd say it looks the best from the west, especially the Fenway area and driving in on the Pike, as it is the nearest and most dominant of the Big 3 from there. It does ruin some postcard views, such as the way it crowds up behind the Pru from the Longfellow Bridge, and disappears completely behind the Pru in other views, such as from Chelsea. It has created an awkward dynamic from more angles than MT has downtown, but the tower itself always looks good. The lack of lighting at the top is a disappointment, same as MT.
IMG_2181 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_2175 by David Z, on Flickr
Next 2 show the stunning way these 3 now line up from the West. This is by far my favorite aspect of the skyline addition.
IMG_9952 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_2140 by David Z, on Flickr
So thin, tall, and vertical.
IMG_2151 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_1966 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_1555 by David Z, on Flickr
Kind of creating a new Back Bay plateau. Just wait until they announce a flat roof 780' or something. It would be nice to see 1 tower break this plateau, but it's so typically Boston.
IMG_1554 by David Z, on Flickr
IMG_0531 by David Z, on Flickr
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