Draft Project Impact Report - Boston Redevelopment Authority

Exeter Residences/888 Boylston
Landscaping
3.3 Urban Context – 888 Boylston
be a silver or champagne metallic paint finish that will be visually compatible with
the masonry. The window frames are set nearly flush with the cladding for a modern
presentation and are glazed in areas with metal panel to lighten the building
visually. Operable windows will be part of each residence further animating the
façades.
The Exeter Residences is sited within the footprint of existing structures and will
have a direct connection at its second level to the plaza bounded by the Gloucester
residential tower, East Ring Road, and the Lord & Taylor department store. The
plaza will remain an urban, predominately hardscape, outdoor space and Exeter
Residences will strengthen the definition of its eastern edge. A new stair and
elevator through the base of the building provides a direct mid-block connection
from the plaza to Exeter Street. This new connection will improve pedestrian access
to the southern entrance of Lord & Taylor from Exeter Street and Copley Square.
The proposed improvements to Exeter Street will help to further transform the street
from a service road to a pedestrian oriented street with a traditional Back Bay design.
The Exeter Street sidewalk in front of the Exeter Residences will retain its urban feel
but will benefit from an improved street wall with the glass frontage of residential
and retail uses. Brick paving on the sidewalk will articulate the building entrance
and retail spaces.
The design team is proposing to plant street trees on the western and eastern edge of
Exeter Street. Street trees are also proposed at the corner of Blagden and Exeter
Streets to create a more pedestrian friendly walking experience, and visually connect
the two sides of the street. All plant materials will be selected from indigenous
species based upon urban hardiness, and low to no irrigation requirements. The
enhanced sidewalks shown in Figures 3-9 and 3-10 will improve the appearance,
condition, quality of design and materials, and accessibility and visibility of Exeter
Street.
888 Boylston is proposed to be a 17 story mixed use office and retail building,
incorporating two levels of underground parking, street and arcade level retail space,
a third and fourth levels designed to accommodate either retail or office uses and 13
to 15 levels of office space above. Situated between the Mandarin Oriental Boston
and the Hynes Convention Center, the building is set back 92 feet from the Boylston
Street curb (77 feet from the property line) to create a new pedestrian scaled street
\\Mabos\projects\09916.00\docs\Permits\DPIR\Text\DPIR Chapter 3 Urban
Design.docx Urban Design 3-6