BOSTON | Mayor Urges Construction of City's Tallest | NEVER BUILT

[Fabb]

Piano is known for works like the Centre Pompidou, an acclaimed modern art museum in Paris. He is also designing the new London Bridge skyscraper, which, at just over 1,000 feet, will be that city’s tallest tower.

... and the NYTimes tower, very much praised and cherished on this board. That's probably why he's likely to be selected for the job in Boston.

[Dale]

Anything yet ?

[Mike/617]

One bidder for Mayor's tower
Boston Business Journal - 5:14 PM EST Monday
by Michelle Hillman
Journal staff


Mayor Thomas Menino's dream for a tower is in the hands of one businessman -- Steven Belkin -- and world-renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano.

Responses to the Boston Redevelopment Authority's requests for proposals were due Nov. 13. Belkin's team was the only one that responded. Belkin was long considered a frontrunner for the development site at 115 Federal St. given the fact that he owns an adjacent building at 133 Federal Street.

Belkin's team has proposed 1.3 million square feet of commercial office space, 40,000 square feet of retail and restaurant uses and 55,000 square feet of public space including a one acre "Town Green" and a rooftop garden called "Lookout Garden."

In addition to benefiting from owning a neighboring site enabling him to expand the building's footprint, Belkin had earlier designs for the site -- which is currently a dilapidated, city-owned garage. In July, the Boston Business Journal reported that Belkin had hired Piano to design the tower.

The mayor's office issued a statement Monday in regard to Belkin's proposal for New England's tallest tower.

"I called for world-class architects to come up with a building that reflects all the greatness and potential of Boston," Menino said. "Today's proposal, a 1,000 foot tower from Trans National Properties, promises everything we asked for. I look forward to a working with the developer and to review in detail their plans for this historic project."

Belkin issued a similar statement.

"The Mayor has recognized the need for Boston to be well-positioned in a global economy and has raised the bar in asking for world-class architecture that reflects the Boston of the future," Belkin, chairman of Trans National Properties, said in the statement. "We commend him for his forward thinking vision, and have answered his call with a project driven by unprecedented public spaces and an innovative environmentally sustainable design."

The city and the Boston Redevelopment Authority issued a request for proposals in May. The city advertised in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal in an effort to attract national and international interest.

The site was considered particularly difficult to develop given its location and the lack of viable commercial tenants to anchor the building. The site -- bounded by Franklin, Federal, Summer and Devonshire streets -- is approximately 47,000 square feet.

The BRA will review the economic feasibility of the proposal as part of phase two of the RFP process.

Though no time line was provided, the statement said a selection committee would make a final recommendation to the BRA Board of Directors. Once an internal review of the second stage is complete a public meeting will be scheduled.




Link

[WonderlandPark]

Photo?

[WonderlandPark]

double post

[lexicon506]

^You got it!



Looks like Renzo is going for the NYT look here in Boston as well.

[Dougall5505]

meh

[Goody]

Yet again that is not the tower plan, but rather just what a tower of that size could look like in the skyline... for some reason they dont like making plans for what the real building might look like.

[Goody]

BTW I also think we need a 800-900 foot buddy next to this beast... as its so much taller then all its fellows, we need something for the eye to fallow up too.

[spyguy]

Originally Posted by Fabb

... and the NYTimes tower, very much praised and cherished on this board.

Are you sure about that?

[WonderlandPark]

I like it, was hoping that the 1000' would be roof height and not a spire. Can't have it all, but this looks like a nice addition to the downtown cluster.

[Goody]

^ That building is likely taller then 1000 feet, the Brown building speeking out there is just across at the street and is just short of 600 feet. I would Say that building without the spire is 1050-1100, not that it matters

[M. Brown]

This pic should go in the OP.

[spyguy]

Originally Posted by lexicon506

Assuming I'm measuring this all correctly (?), the roof height would be less than 900 ft and to the tip of the spire would be something like 1050 ft. I guess we'll see

[STERNyc]

Atleast Piano is proposing a lamentable design for a city other than New York this time...

[Dale]

Tough crowd. I like it.

[kznyc2k]

Now I wasn't expecting Renzo to do some Pelli-esque cliche setback-and-spire design, but this is flat out lame. 1,000 ft, yet nothing about it exclaims 1,000 feet and tallest in the city.

And what's with the spire? Did someone tack that on at the tail end of the 11th hour? Oh wait, the X-braces are supposed to make up for it. Gotcha.

[STERNyc]

Originally Posted by kznyc2k

Now I wasn't expecting Renzo to do some Pelli-esque cliche setback-and-spire design, but this is flat out lame. 1,000 ft, yet nothing about it exclaims 1,000 feet and tallest in the city.

And what's with the spire? Did someone tack that on at the tail end of the 11th hour? Oh wait, the X-braces are supposed to make up for it. Gotcha.

If I'm reading the rendering correctly it'll have a detached observation deck, Prudential Center Part Deux.

[kznyc2k]

the Prudential Center.... there's something to aspire to.

But to be less of a downer, an observation deck at that height in Boston would be supremely entertaining.

[kalmia]

Is the mayor set on allowing a 1000-footer for a specific site or a variety of sites? What they should do is just lift height restrictions on much of the city. Boston could use some residential highrises with its artificially high price of housing.