Draft Project Impact Report - Boston Redevelopment Authority

Exeter Residences/888 Boylston
Test Results
Existing Conditions
155-Feet Zoning Height
\\Mabos\projects\09916.00\docs\Permits\DPIR\Text\DPIR Chapter 5
Environmental.docx
The following sections describe the expected pedestrian level wind conditions in the
Existing, 155-feet Zoning Height and Proposed Program conditions. Sensor location
plans depicting pedestrian wind comfort and safety categories are provided in
Figure 5-1 through 5-3. A complete tabulation of modeled pedestrian wind speeds is
provided in Appendix G of the Technical Appendices.
Under existing conditions, the majority of the Project area is comfortable for sitting,
standing or walking. With the exception of three individual sensor locations
(Nos. 40, 52 and 53) all of the studied locations within public pedestrian areas and
street corridors are estimated to comply with the BRA criteria for annual wind speed.
Locations 40 and 52 located on sidewalks along Huntington Avenue and Belvidere
Street both exceed the BRA’s effective wind gust criteria by 3 mph with an effective
wind gust speed of 34 mph. In addition, six private courtyard locations (80, 81, 84,
86, 87, 88) surrounding the Fairfield residential building have elevated wind speeds
that fall within the uncomfortable category. Location 87 has an annualized wind
speed of 28 mph and an effective wind gust speed of 39 mph. Locations 81 and 86
have unacceptable effective wind gust speeds of 33 and 32 mph respectively.
Overall, six locations were estimated to exceed the BRA’s effective wind gust criteria.
These are locations 40, 52, 81, 84, 86, 88 and 89.
Despite the urban conditions and scale of the Project area, the majority of studied
locations (54 percent) experienced conditions generally suitable for walking or
standing, consistent with long-standing uses of these public and private pedestrian
spaces. An additional 35 percent of the locations were expected to have even lower
wind speeds and were estimated to be comfortable for sitting. Ten of the 92 locations
studied under existing conditions were expected to have uncomfortable conditions at
least 1 percent of the year.
The zoning height of 155 feet was modeled for both 888 Boylston and the Exeter
Residences. Overall, this development scenario is slightly improved when
compared to the existing conditions. Pedestrian level wind conditions were
simulated at ninety-two locations in this development program. Approximately
52 percent (48 sensors) were estimated to be comfortable for standing or walking and
an additional 40 percent (37 sensors) are expected to experience even lower wind
DRAFT - Environmental Protection 5-8