Draft Project Impact Report - Boston Redevelopment Authority

June 21
Exeter Residences/888 Boylston
\\Mabos\projects\09916.00\docs\Permits\DPIR\Text\DPIR Chapter 5
Environmental.docx
the southerly side of Boylston Street is shaded as well. The majority of the Boylston
corridor in the vicinity of the site is in shade from existing buildings at this time.
At noon, 3 PM and 6 PM the shadows are limited to within the Prudential Center
site. At noon the shadow fills in a portion of the Boylston plaza that is not already
shaded by the Prudential tower. At 3 PM and 6 PM the shadows extend to the east
and southeast respectively shading a portion of the existing pedestrian plaza areas
around the existing AvalonBay buildings.
Proposed Program
Under the proposed 888 Boylston program, the 9 AM shadows extend down
Boylston Street in front of the Hynes Convention Center past the
Boylston/Gloucester intersection shading the northern side of Boylston Street. The
southern side of Boylston Street is already shaded by the Hynes.
At 12 PM the 888 Boylston shadow reaches into Boylston Street, but falls short of the
far sidewalk. Portions of the roadway and the southern sidewalk along the building
frontage are in shade at this time.
At 3 PM and 6 PM the effects are similar to the 155 foot condition as shadows are
limited to pedestrian plaza spaces within the Prudential Center as shown on Figures
5-13 and 5-19. At 6 PM the overwhelming majority of internal pedestrian spaces are
in shade.
155-feet Zoning Height
On June 21, the sun traces its highest arc across the sky and results in the fewest
shadows of the year in the Project area. At 9 AM, 888 Boylston will cast a small
shadow to the west near the Hynes Convention Center not reaching Boylston Street.
At this time these shadows do not impact the sidewalks along Boylston Street.
At 12 noon, the sun is almost due south of the site and the building’s new shadow
extends to the plaza immediately to the north of the building and does not reach
Boylston Street.
At 3 PM, the 155 foot 888 Boylston will cast a small new shadow to the east, striking
the existing Prudential Center arcade. However, this narrow shadow will be limited
to the Project Site and will not shade any public space or sidewalk.
At 6 PM, the sun is low in the western sky and any shadows cast by the proposed
building fall within the Prudential Center property and are subsumed by existing
DRAFT - Environmental Protection 5-24