Re: 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District
If you plan to attend a meeting this year to ask a developer,
'wtf are you doing, and what is this shit?' or possibly read the original RFP –
this might be it....
http://www.bostonplans.org/news-cal...winthrop-square-impact-advisory-group-meeting
Impact Advisory Group (IAG) 115 Winthrop Square
Feb 01, 2018 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
BPDA Board Room, Boston City Hall, 9th floor, Room 900
Contact: Casey Ann Hines 617.918.4244
Email:
Casey.A.Hines@Boston.gov
http://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/calendar/2018/02/06/boston-civic-design-commission-meeting
Boston Civic Design Commission (BCDC)
Feb 06, 2018 5:15 PM - 7:05 PM
BPDA Board Room, Boston City Hall, 9th floor, Room 900
Contact: David Carlson 617.918.4284
Email:
David.Carlson@Boston.gov
05-30-2007
...this building is very cutting edge. The future is about sustainable design and this building incorporates innovative approaches to sustainability as well as other design features that make it very cutting edge for a skyscraper....
Shape and form are not the only things that make a project cutting edge, but if you look at the top of the tower and the bottom of the tower, you will see that it is far from a simple rectangle with an appendage along the side. From the terrace-like form at the top, to the cut outs of the tower at the bottom, to the appendage along its side providing express elevator service to which the "spire" is attached, this building has its share of idiosyncrasies to make it a unique object as well. While not cutting edge in this sense, the visual interest is enhanced by the use of glass with visible structural elements from bottom to top.
I think that it will be a breathtaking addition to the Boston skyline, if it is constructed. I don't know whether it will be, or in what ways the design will be modified if it is, but I certainly hope that it is built - and built in a manner that retains the essence of the proposed design.
my letter to the developer and City
115 Fed/Winthrop Garage
At some point we receded from greatness to become a stodgy, obsessive community in our architectural pursuits.
A bit over a decade ago, the Menino Administration determined the crumbling Winthrop Square garage was one of the best sites in Downtown Boston ideal for the construction of a tower rising above 400~450 feet. But, Tom Menino also determined this site was very important – because he knew it was one of the
only places left in Boston where it would be appropriate to build a true skyscraper eclipsing 200m (656.2 feet). He tacitly declared this site off limits for building a run-of-the-mill highrise by declaring exactly the inverse;
On February 17th, 2006, addressing the business community, Menino called for the construction of the city's tallest building ever: topping 1,100 feet at the Winthrop Garage to demonstrate Boston's economic might on the world stage.
''We'll be looking for proposals that symbolize the full scope of this city's greatness... We will insist on bold vision and world-class architecture."
Unfortunately, not long after, the FAA instructed the Menino Admn that they could build only to about 750' but no higher. A short time later, the Great Recession hit, and the project went stale.
The Walsh Administration is carrying on Tom Menino's plan; basically treating the Winthrop Square Garage as a 'legacy' site for an iconic skyscraper. And they should be. The site rises above the very high bar set by the City for a 'true skyscraper.'
Consider a bar of 200 meters. We've built only 3 in our City's history. If you lower the bar to the lowest standard of a true skyscraper (180m), we've eclipsed this threshold only 8 times in the City's history.
We don't have many of these sites left in Boston that rise to this elite status. After running through a long list of criteria beginning with underground right of ways, infrastructure, FAA restrictions, shadow considerations, then, moving on to historic preservation including the historical significance of abutters, step ups, etc – there's almost nothing left that works.
The Boston regional economy is seeing exceptional growth. Boston's peer cities are not only growing, but (exponentially) in height and design... while Boston stagnates dismally.
Soon, the only significant parcels left in the core of Boston (might be) a few approved low highrises, with many left unbuilt. i find this state of affairs in a major American city, especially one with the economic status of Boston
stunning.
It is now going past 12 years. We thought we were (finally) going to add something unique and beautiful to the Downtown Core at Winthrop Square. But now, Millennium Partners is planing build something completely different than what they originally presented to the public;
Millennium sold an acceptable design (while closing the space above ground off from the public) on the strength of the substantial public benefits.
They have withdrawn the original tower design, slashed the height (3 times) – and substituted it with a bland building that clearly does not meet the standard of the stature, urban size, eminence, or economic significance of Boston for its signature downtown Tower.
As one observer writes, "Not only did they knock the height down several times, [when the original purpose was to build something incredibly tall] but, then they took every architectural step to make it appear shorter than it is, while widening the upper portion of the tower. We need vertical lines–not grouped together windows. This parcel needs to show its height; its not Allston...."
Another observer coins, "a '70s background building in the opening for the 'Bob Newhart' show... The first and second designs are much different, better and more elegant than the latest."
We should keep the promises made to all the beneficiaries. But, also keep the promises made to the people of Boston that something truly great would be built here. What is now being presented is ill-designed to meet the future. We need a much better/more-beautiful design.
Business is good. Millennium Partners and Boston already possess the needed additional funds from this unprecedented boom. MP and Boston must consent to a deal to improve the massing and curtain wall at Winthrop Square.
Millennium Partners and Boston must demonstrate to America and area residents that we can do the right thing – and deliver a skyscraper worthy of the people of Boston... despite that they will never set foot above the first floor.
.