SkyscraperPage Forum

SkyscraperPage Forum (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/index.php)
-   Cancelled Project Threads Archive (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=654)
-   -   BOSTON | Copley Place Tower | 626 FT / 191 M | 47 FLOORS | CANCELLED (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148378)

Mike/617 Mar 30, 2008 12:33 AM

BOSTON | Copley Place Tower | 626 FT / 191 M | 47 FLOORS | CANCELLED
 
Copley Place owner unveils tower plan
By Scott Van Voorhis
Friday, March 21, 2008


A luxury condo and retail tower almost as tall as the Prudential building would soar over Copley Square under plans unveiled yesterday by the upscale Copley Place Mall’s owner.

Retail giant Simon Properties proposed a major expansion of the mall’s Neiman Marcus store, as well as new shops and restaurants - all topped by 300 condos priced at $1 million and up.

“With all the services and amenities Copley Place offers, we thought residential was just a natural component,” said Carl Dieterle, executive vice president of development for Simon.

The project’s launch comes after months of planning and efforts to head off concerns raised by some neighborhood activists that the proposed 47-story tower might cast a long shadow across nearby Copley Square and other Back Bay landmarks.

While acknowledging the shadow issue, Simon executives contend the tower’s design will limit the project’s impact.

The high-rise will take shape on a four-story podium, with the tower itself thin and tapered to create the least amount of shadow possible on Copley Square and on the nearby Commonwealth Avenue mall, Dieterle said.

Citing research Simon commissioned, Dieterle conceded the tower will cast a shadow across some of Copley Square and the Commonwealth mall - but only between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the winter and fall months. “It’s pencil like,” he said.

Still, the prospect of any additional shadows on Copley Square and the Commonwealth Avenue mall will have to thoroughly reviewed, said state Rep. Marty Walz (D-Back Bay).

And the design of the high-rise, given its proximity to the widely acclaimed Hancock tower, also needs to be carefully considered.

“It will be reflected in the facade of the Hancock Center and it has a very prominent position on the Back Bay skyline,” Walz said. “This needs to be a spectacularly beautiful building.”

More than just a new tower is planned, with a major retail expansion also in the works.

The project aims to add 54,000 square feet to the existing Neiman Marcus store, as well as an additional 60,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. A four-season winter garden is also planned.

And despite concerns over a weakening economy, Simon’s Dieterle notes the project won’t open until 2012 - likely putting it in a recovering real estate market.


Link



http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/G...75536_2642.gif


http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h3...opleytower.jpg

for a high res image click HERE

Goody Mar 30, 2008 12:59 AM

I hope it doesnt get scaled back, and that the design is better then I'm thinking.

While they are at it they should replace Copley Place- and the huge JH parking garage.

KevinFromTexas Mar 30, 2008 3:50 AM

I actually like the idea so far. Let's hope the facade and other details are up to snuff. But that shape of tower for some reason says "Boston" to me.

Shasta Mar 30, 2008 3:10 PM

I live right off of Columbus Avenue and work out literally across the street from this proposal. I am ALL for it! It would be such a huge improvement over what is currently there...which is nothing but wasted, wind-blasted space!

Wattleigh Mar 30, 2008 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shasta (Post 3450293)
I live right off of Columbus Avenue and work out literally across the street from this proposal. I am ALL for it! It would be such a huge improvement over what is currently there...which is nothing but wasted, wind-blasted space!

As someone who chooses to walk from Government Center to Copley whenever I'm in town (fully aware there's a station there as well, thanks :P ), I'd love to see this rise! If anything, it would stand out from the blocky appearance the complex has overall and I'm all for that.

Austinlee Mar 31, 2008 2:27 AM

Looks like a great location.

ginjitsuman Mar 31, 2008 4:45 PM

Hope this is built, anyone know of a Boston Specific thread? Just joined the site and am looking for more Boston related projects.

Complex01 Mar 31, 2008 6:18 PM

I want to see more, but i like the concept so far...

:wizard:

boston 44 Apr 1, 2008 1:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginjitsuman (Post 3452480)
Hope this is built, anyone know of a Boston Specific thread? Just joined the site and am looking for more Boston related projects.

archBOSTON.com

AJphx Apr 1, 2008 5:28 PM

that would be a good addition, but I wouldn't say that its "almost as tall as" the prudential building.

NDPhilly Jul 1, 2008 4:31 PM

wow it is smaller than i thought

kznyc2k Jul 16, 2008 3:05 AM

Tonight was the first public meeting for this project, and here's what I got. It's really a beautiful tower..

The setting:

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/3497/img5019kf9.jpg

The architect: Howard Elkus of Elkus Manfredi, Boston's second biggest architectural firm

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4142/img5023zt1.jpg

Skyline shots:

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/1786/img5028vn4.jpg

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9792/img5029yg9.jpg

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5444/img5034ll1.jpg

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2344/img5035vv7.jpg

The ground level, looking east down Stuart:

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/4647/img5030rn7.jpg

Looking north:

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/4282/img5031bd5.jpg

The winter garden:

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3680/img5032vi4.jpg

Site plan:

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3713/img5033gr4.jpg

floor plans:

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/7315/img5026zb7.jpg

And model shots:

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4019/img5036po9.jpg

Looking south from approximately Dartmouth and Beacon Streets:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2065/img5037iy3.jpg

From Copley Square:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/8135/img5038rn7.jpg

Looking west down Stuart Street. The Clarendon is the structure at the left:

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5394/img5039cr1.jpg

From the Southwest Corridor Park:

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7353/img5040tb6.jpg

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/5043/img5041ex7.jpg

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/517/img5042oq2.jpg

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/289/img5043aw3.jpg

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9210/img5044rh6.jpg

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1441/img5045fx3.jpg

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/5738/img5046bk6.jpg

Shasta Jul 16, 2008 5:08 AM

What an excellent update. THanks for sharing.

I can see my roofdeck in some of those renderings/photos!

tiger47 Jul 16, 2008 2:15 PM

any feeling at the meeting about what community opinion on this project is?

kznyc2k Jul 16, 2008 11:31 PM

It was just the first public meeting, so a lot of things hadn't been fully nailed down yet. Having said that, my feelings were that I've been to much more contentious meetings. Although there were a couple who got quite pointed in their questioning over the usual issues (shadows, wind, what zoning mechanism will be used as its an air rights development and not technicially under city laws), nobody raised their voice, and the overall tone was one of agreement.

Of course this was just the first meeting, so perhaps the NIMBYs will come to the next round with M16s and the like. But for now most people seemed to support what they saw.

FlyersFan118 Jul 17, 2008 12:45 AM

wow, what a cool looking building. some buildings are beautiful, but this one just looks cool. very boston.

kznyc2k Aug 7, 2008 8:30 AM

I made it to the liberry this weekend and checked out the Project Notification Form:

NOTE: The 569 feet measure is just to the top of the occupiable floors. The height to the top of the structure is actually 625'-8"....so 626 feet is what we're actually dealing with. Could a Mod update the thread title?

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3512/img6998wv5.jpg

fourth floor:

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/6940/img7005pl1.jpg

fifth floor:

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/5267/img7006kf4.jpg

sixth floor, residential sky lobby:

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1037/img7008uf5.jpg

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/3553/img7013ch5.jpg

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/8011/img7014wd8.jpg

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/2585/img7015yy9.jpg

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/2918/img7016la6.jpg

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/701/img7017mn0.jpg

looking east:

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/5764/img7018pw3.jpg

and looking north:

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/884/img7019ck9.jpg

Shadow study, this one for the winter solstice at 12 PM.

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/7456/img7026ib1.jpg

I have a full set of shots of the shadow studies, so anyone wants to see the rest speak up and I'll post them.

CapitalCity Aug 7, 2008 2:23 PM

Looks like a very nice building and a good addition to the skyline

ltsmotorsport Aug 21, 2008 1:06 AM

Slick lookin' tower.

shrikearghast Aug 3, 2009 6:51 AM

It's attractive but small, and it's not actually located in downtown.

For the times being what they are (economically speaking) this is probably the best Boston can hope for. However, I really, REALLY wish they'd make some kind of a move on a supertall that the FAA couldn't nix.


All times are GMT. The time now is 9:45 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.