Draft Project Impact Report - Boston Redevelopment Authority

Exeter Residences/888 Boylston
\\Mabos\projects\09916.00\docs\Permits\DPIR\Text\DPIR Chapter 5
Environmental.docx
June 21, 9am EST: Figure 5-36 shows the morning sun at a relatively low angle
sending narrow bands of light onto the rooftops and streets. Sunlight reflecting off
the facetted curve of the north elevation of 888 Boylston strikes Boylston Street on the
northern portion of the roadway, sidewalk and building front with a small panel of
light. However, the glare will not be a factor to east-bound one-way traffic, cyclists
or pedestrians on Boylston Street since it is perpendicular to pedestrian and
vehicular movement. At this hour, the thin shaft of glare depicted on Exeter Street
may be a factor to south-bound traffic. Other glare effects during this date and time
are to rooftops, the south-west façade and service entrance of the Mandarin Oriental
Boston, the south-west façade of the Fairfield building, and the south-west façade of
the Boston Public Library to which there are no entrances.
June 21, 12 noon EST: The high angle of the sun at this date and time, as indicated in
Figure 5-36, almost completely eliminates glare effects at this date and time. Minor
intensity glare is expected on the roof of the Prudential Center Arcade and the roof
covering the entrance to the Prudential Center Garage off of Exeter Street.
June 21, 3pm EST: Shafts of reflected sunlight of average to moderate intensity are
shown in Figure 5-36 striking the Hynes Convention Center and Lord & Taylor
rooftops. At this time, the plaza located in front of 888 Boylston will receive
moderate to intense levels of glare in several locations. This scenario highlights the
importance of the plaza tree plantings to eliminating glare. Trees will be in full leaf
well before June 21, and should help to address this issue.
June 21, 6pm EST: Figure 5-36 identifies low sun reflecting off the northwest facades
of Exeter Residences and 888 Boylston which creates far reaching shafts of glare with
minor to average level intensities. Glare is expected on rooftops of the Hynes
Convention Center, buildings on Boylston Street, Lord & Taylor, Lenox Hotel and the
Boston Public Library. Reflected sunlight of minor level intensity will reach the front
façade of Saks Fifth Avenue, the north-west façade of the Gloucester building and the
storefront of several buildings on Boylston Street. Lastly, the southeast portion of the
Boylston Street arcade will be cast with scattered glare of average intensity to which
plaza tree plantings will help to alleviate.
December 21, 9am EST: The morning sun at this date and time, as shown on Figure
5-37, distributes thin and low intensity bands of light onto the proposed building
facades producing minimal glare effects. Minor intensity glare is cast onto the
Prudential Center arcade roof extending onto the northern façade of the Prudential
tower and elevated walkway. Reflected sunlight also strikes the north-east façade of
the Gloucester building and continues past onto the Shaw’s Supermarket rooftop and
Huntington Avenue sidewalk. Also during this time, a small flash of glare with
minor intensity strikes the west-bound lane of traffic on Huntington Avenue. This
may be a factor for drivers, however, unlikely since the glare would be behind and to
the side of vehicles thereby causing less of a distraction. Furthermore, a substantial
shaft of reflected sunlight with average level intensity is anticipated to strike the
DRAFT - Environmental Protection 5-35