Draft Project Impact Report - Boston Redevelopment Authority

Exeter Residences/888 Boylston
Conclusions
\\Mabos\projects\09916.00\docs\Permits\DPIR\Text\DPIR Chapter 5
Environmental.docx
the Hynes Convention Center rooftop, although of minor intensity. Other rooftops
affected include Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Mandarin Oriental Boston and
the Boston Public Library. Thin rays of minor level intensity glare will impact the
roadway, sidewalk and rooftops of buildings on Boylston Street extending to
Newbury Street. As discussed previously, the glare will be perpendicular to
pedestrian and vehicular movement therefore reducing the potential impacts.
Reflected sunlight of minor level intensity will also reach the front façade and
rooftop of Saks Fifth Avenue, the north-west façade and plaza north of the
Gloucester building and the plaza south of Mandarin Oriental Boston. Lastly, the
southeast portion of the Boylston Arcade will be cast with scattered glare of average
intensity which plaza tree plantings will help to alleviate.
December 21, 9am EST: Figure 5-40 shows low sun reflecting off the south face of
888 Boylston onto the roof of the Prudential Center Arcade and the north wall of the
Prudential Tower. There is no impact on Boylston Street at this date and time. On
Exeter Street the impacts to the building at the northwest corner of Boylston Street
and Exeter street are greatly diminished when compared to the 155 foot condition
due to changes in building and façade geometry. Solar glare to the south toward the
Gloucester and Shaws Supermarket are eliminated through the design and façade
changes.
December 21, 12 noon EST: Figure 5-40 At this time the proposed 888 Boylston
Street produces a thin ray of reflected sunlight onto the eastern Gloucester Street
sidewalk with moderate intensity. Given the offset from parked vehicles this
reflected light is not expected to have a significant impact on drivers at this
intersection but pedestrians on the east sidewalk may notice it. The proposed Exeter
Residences casts minor reflected light that is broken up by the window pattern into
the Huntington Avenue and Exeter Street intersection. Exeter Street is one-way
southbound here. Given this and the relatively minor intensity of the reflected light,
impacts on divers are not expected.
December 21, 3pm EST: Figure 5-40 shows a very limited amount of reflected light
from the 888 Boylston building, most of which lands on the Hynes Convention
Center roof. Reflected light from the Exeter Residences is greatly diminished and
more widely distributed as a result of the proposed building geometry and façade
design. Segmented patches of glare are spread over the south face of the Mandarin
Oriental Boston and pedestrian plaza areas to the west of the building.
The proposed Exeter Residences utilizes a number of design aspects to mitigate glare:
DRAFT - Environmental Protection 5-38