Draft Project Impact Report - Boston Redevelopment Authority

Exeter Residences/888 Boylston
December 21
Conclusions – 888 Boylston
\\Mabos\projects\09916.00\docs\Permits\DPIR\Text\DPIR Chapter 5
Environmental.docx
155-feet Zoning Height
December 21 generally represents the longest shadows of the year. Boylston Street is
generally in shadow for most of the day. On this date the 155 foot 888 Boylston fills
in gaps with new shadow at 9 AM and 12 PM. At 3 PM the proposed 888 Boylston
building casts no new shadow, as the street is fully in shade under the existing
condition.
On this date the 155 foot 888 Boylston building contributes no new shadow to the
internal pedestrian plaza areas around the existing AvalonBay residential buildings.
The sun sets on this date at 4:15.
Proposed Program
On December 21 the proposed 888 Boylston building has equivalent shadow on
Boylston Street in the immediate vicinity of the site when compared to the 155 foot
Boylston building. The Proposed Program also fills in a gap between existing
shadows at the Commonwealth Avenue and Gloucester Street intersection. This
shadow only occurs for a short period of time and is subsumed by the existing
shadows due to the low sun angle.
Similarly to the 155 foot condition, the proposed building does not cast any shadow
on the Prudential Center internal pedestrian plaza areas compared to the existing
condition.
The proposed 888 Boylston building will create minor new shadows during each day
modeled. In all cases the shadow impacts do not violate any of the design criteria
relevant to the building.
When compared to the 155 foot 888 Boylston building the Proposed Program results
in minor changes in shadow impacts to public ways and the internal Prudential
Center Pedestrian plaza in and around the existing AvalonBay residential buildings.
The shadows will fill in existing small gaps in the shadows created by the existing
built environment or marginally expand on existing shadows.
Additionally, the Proposed Program only includes a short period of shadow on the
Commonwealth Avenue Mall under only one time period analyzed. This shadow
occurs for about an hour and a half and if generally a thin shaft of shadow between
existing shadow from existing buildings.
DRAFT - Environmental Protection 5-26