Seaport – Leaves of Glass

Goodwin, Seaport, Boston,MA

The recent ribbon-cutting for Mass Mutual at the Boston Seaport is one marker of the progress in this district. Mass Mutual was an original partner with Fallon Corp on the build-out which began in 2005. The district is all about glass facades. Here is a selection of details.

Pier 4, glass, Seaport, Boston, MA

 

Mass Mutual, Seaport buildings, Boston, MA

Mass Mutual and 50 Liberty, Boston, MA

Fallon Corp bought the 20-acre Fan Pier parcel from the Pritzker family (Chicago) in 2005. At that time, the Moakley Courthouse was the only major building in this sea of parking lots. Mass Mutual was the financial partner.  Their new 17-story office building was designed by Elkus-Manfredi, who also designed nearby Vertex and 50 Liberty.

 

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New Science Harvard SEAS SEC

The Paulson Center for Science, Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) at Harvard University anchors the new Allston campus, just west of the Stadium and the Business School, on Western Avenue.

Harvard Science SEC SEAS, Allston, MA

Architect Stefan Behnisch has designed a wonderful new temple to Science, with a complex program of energy saving innovations.

Harvard Science SEC SEAS complex, Allston Boston MA (Behnisch architect)

Paulson Center Engineering SEAS Harvard, Allston, MA

Very few students are using it now, but it will be occupied in the Fall of 2021. Landscape design by Stephen Stimson Studio. This image is part of coverage for Harvard Magazine.  Construction is by Turner.  Known as SEC (Science Engineering Complex), the building is LEED Platinum, for its energy-conserving design.

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Customs House Tower clock – 105 anniversary

Customs House tower aerial view, with State Street bldgs, Boston, MA

While the tower was completed in 1915, the clock was not started until noon on April 6, 1916. Built by the Howard Clock Co., it has a 9 foot pendulum.   Stats:  22 ft diameter face,  3 ft glass numbers,  hands 11 & 14 feet long. The concept – building a deco tower on top of a greek temple – is audacious.  As a landmark, it is brilliant; easily identified from all parts of the city, making a distinctive motif for Boston.  This aerial view is from a helicopter.

An archival photo from 1913 captures the first stage of construction.  Probably taken from the Four & Grain Exchange.  The tower design is by Peabody & Stearns, 1913-1915.  The original Customs House, a granite temple, was designed by Ammi Young, 1847.

 

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Raffles Boston penthouse rendering

The Raffles Hotel project in Boston has begun its marketing campaign. Recent articles in Forbes and Boston.com show several renderings of the tower, located on Stuart Street, between Clarendon and Dartmouth. This image shows the penthouse terrace, with a view of Copley Square that I made last Fall, using the Inspire 2 drone with x7 camera. The view is a two-shot panorama. Architectural design by The Architectural Team. Rendering by Binyan.

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Touro Synagogue

Touro Synagogue, Newport, RI

Touro Synagogue, Newport, RI

The oldest synagogue in America was built to serve the Sephardic Jewish community in Newport, led by Isaac Touro. The architect, Peter Harrison, was already known for his work at King’s Chapel in Boston and the Redwood library in Newport. The exterior uses the Palladian style. Completed in 1763, it is now a National Historic Site.

 

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Harvard SEAS Science and Engineering

The Paulson Center for Science, Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) at Harvard University anchors the new Allston campus, just west of the Stadium and the Business School. Architect Stefan Behnisch has designed a wonderful new temple to Science, with a complex program of energy saving innovations. This photo, taken with a drone at about 125 feet above ground, shows the building at twilight. Very few students are using it now, and some motion-activated lights are off. They say it will be occupied in the Fall of 2021. Landscape design by Stephen Stimson Studio. This image is part of coverage for Harvard Magazine.  Construction is by Turner.  Known as SEC (Science Engineering Complex), the building is LEED Platinum, for its energy-conserving design.

Harvard SEAS engineering school

Harvard SEAS engineering school, Allson, MA. (Stefan Behnisch = architect)

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Chesterfield, MA

A perfect little village at a crossroads, Chesterfield sits on a hilltop in western Massachusetts. It has the essentials: a church, a library, a post office, a store, town offices, and a few Federal style houses. This aerial view is taken from a drone, at 400 ft AGL.

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Lenox panorama aerial

3-part panorama looking north from the Church on the Hill, Lenox, MA. Drone altitude is 400 ft.

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Fort Point panorama with LAANC

panorama sunset Fort Point Channel, downtown skyline, aerial Boston, MA


panorama sunrise Fort Point Channel, downtown skyline, aerial Boston, MA

The FAA has introduced LAANC to facilitate drone authorizations in controlled airspace. Boston was activated in late 2018. This image was made with the new system. The panorama is made by merging 3 exposures: left, center, right.

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Boston aerial sunrise clouds

Charles River sunrise, from BU Bridge area, Boston, MA aerial rowing

On left, just before the sun clears the skyline buildings. On right, a few minutes later, as a scrim of clouds moves in from the west. The sun must be blocked to reduce its intensity. In this case, it is slipping behind the Hyatt hotel. ND-1-stop grad. Inspire 2. The 2k video is very interesting, also.

 

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