Winthrop Center, is a

skyscraper A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable building having multiple floors. Modern sources currently define skyscrapers as being at least or in height, though there is no universally accepted definition. Skyscrapers are very tall high-ris ...

in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. When completed, Winthrop Center would stand as the fourth-tallest building in Boston,

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

. The tower is being built on the site of the defunct Winthrop Square Garage in the

Financial District A financial district is usually a central area in a city where financial services firms such as banks, insurance companies and other related finance corporations have their head offices. In major cities, financial districts are often home to s ...

History

While planning the Winthrop Square Tower, six developers pitched designs to the

Boston Redevelopment Authority The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), formerly the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), is a Massachusetts public agency that serves as the municipal planning and development agency for Boston, working on both housing and commercial de ...

, where the design by the Millennium Partners was chosen in August of 2016. On October 26, 2016, the Boston Redevelopment Agency approved the construction of the tower. In November 2016, Millennium Partners increased the height to . The building's planned height was later shortened to . In January 2018, the height was lowered again, to , and in May 2018 to On October 18, 2018 Millennium Partners announced a groundbreaking date for October 24, 2018 and changing the name from “Winthrop Square Tower” to “Winthrop Center”. The completion of the tower is planned for March 2023.

One Winthrop Square Park redevelopment

Winthrop Square to receive enhancements in connection with tower construction, and with that, Millennium Partners decided to redevelop the heart of Winthrop Square Park. It would include street trees, a water feature, granite paving, flowering understory trees, canopy trees, sculptural benches and a pedestrian connection to Winthrop Center.

Controversy

Many activists and residents in the city have opposed the building's construction, as the building as originally proposed would create a large shadow on

Boston Common The Boston Common (also known as the Common) is a public park in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest city park in the United States. Boston Common consists of of land bounded by Tremont Street (139 Tremont St.), Park Street, Beacon ...

for at least 90 minutes on some mornings. This would break a state law that prohibits shadows on Boston Common or the Public Garden. The tower was also scrutinized by

Massport Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) is an American port authority in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It owns and operates three airports—Logan International Airport, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regional Airport—and public terminals in ...

, claiming that the tower's height would interfere with air traffic from

Logan Airport General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport , also known as Boston Logan International Airport and commonly as Boston Logan, Logan Airport or simply Logan, is an international airport that is located mostly in East Boston and partiall ...

. Boston Mayor

Marty Walsh Martin Joseph Walsh (born April 10, 1967) is an American politician and former union official. He has been the 29th United States Secretary of Labor since March 23, 2021. A Democrat, he previously served as the 54th mayor of Boston from 2014, ...

has stated that he wishes to modify the state law prohibiting the building's construction, to allow the construction of the tower but to prevent future developments in the area. The planned height of the building was altered in September 2017, to comply with the

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...

's declaration that the building's proposed height was too tall and would, therefore, disrupt flights from

Logan International Airport General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport , also known as Boston Logan International Airport and commonly as Boston Logan, Logan Airport or simply Logan, is an international airport that is located mostly in East Boston and partially ...

. The planned height of the building was lowered from to . The height was reduced again, in January 2018, to , and a modified design with a height of was approved on May 1, 2018.height above average grade per pdf drawings referenced below

References

{{Reflist PDFs: # http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/db054d88-6a72-45fc-bed8-6b98eda8161b # http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/ddf78729-e352-42e2-a3d1-5bf05babe6c9 # http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/57105d1c-74af-47e0-9caa-3a6f143bb809 # http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/af18f125-8e21-4387-a7fa-0d3707c37d7b # http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/1df9eb07-9ff7-47b2-93dc-cfcbc0197323 # http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/59bd6382-8ebe-4142-8663-86e2fcaf6963 # http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/6ae08631-117f-414c-9e4c-eb4255f28057

External links

Tim Logan, Boston Globe, January 3, 2018: Revised plans for Winthrop Square tower don’t go to such great heights
Proposed skyscrapers in the United States Skyscrapers in Boston

History

One Winthrop Square Park redevelopment

Controversy

See also

References

External links