121 Seaport, a 440,000-sf Class A office tower within Boston’s Innovative Seaport District, recently accepted its first tenant, with Alexion Pharmaceuticals leasing 150,000 square feet on floors three through eight. Internet of Things (IoT) technology provider PTC is leasing 250,000 sf, and will move in early next year, according to Skanska, this building’s GC, developer, and owner.
The 18-story building, which was completed this Spring, is distinguished by its elliptical exterior design that required 10% less facade, which helped reduce construction costs and waste. The shape also cuts the surface area of the building that’s exposed to the sun, so there’s less heat gain, which translates to 15% energy savings.
121 Seaport is targeting LEED Platinum certification.
Boston-based CBT designed the building. BD+C spoke with two of CBT’s Principals, Phil Casey and David Nagahiro, about this project, whose design began in 2014.
Casey says the Building team had to rethink what a seaport office building would look like. He notes, too, that the site dictated the shape and orientation of the building. For one thing, the building had to navigate around a corner of the site that intersected with a tunnel for the Boston’s Silver Line bus service, which connects the seaport to Logan Airport.
Part of the site is also within the Federal Aviation Administration’s zone for Logan, which limited the height of the building. “Moving the building outside of the zoning envelope was liberating,” says Nagahiro. (The completed building is just under 250 feet tall.)
The shape of the building creates an aerodynamic plane that minimizes the impact of wind, which meant that less lateral steel reinforcement was needed, and thereby improving the efficiency of the building’s floorplate.
The building's lobby is designed to give visitors and pedestrians a calming sense of place. Image: CBT
The building’s lobby is positioned toward Central Square, the Seaport’s green space, thereby cultivating a welcoming urban experience for pedestrians. “When you walk into the lobby, you know you’re in a different building,” says Nagahiro.
The building’s interior features include virtually column-free floorplates, elevated 10-ft ceilings, and access to outdoor terraces. Other amenities include 24/7 concierge service, a private fitness center, green roof over the 50,000-sf retail podium, and a rooftop terrace with striking views of the city.
At the base of this building is a 70-ft-wide promenade called Harbor Way with 20,000 sf of open space and an interactive walking museum. A parking garage underneath the building can accommodate 270 vehicles and 270 bikes.
Since launching its commercial development business in 2009, Skanska has invested nearly $500 million into sustainable developments in Boston. Aside from 121 Seaport, it has two other developments at the Seaport: 101 Seaport, the North American headquarters for the accounting and consulting firm PwC; and Watermark Seaport, a two-building 300,000-sf LEED Gold residential high rise with ground-floor retail, and 15,000 sf of indoor/outdoor space for residents that includes an 18th-floor sky deck.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Dec 7, 2022
SOM reveals its design for Singapore’s tallest skyscraper
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has revealed its design for 8 Shenton Way—a mixed-use tower that will stand 63 stories and 305 meters (1,000 feet) high, becoming Singapore’s tallest skyscraper. The design team also plans to make the building one of Asia’s most sustainable skyscrapers. The tower incorporates post-pandemic design features.
Office Buildings | Dec 7, 2022
Software giant SAP opens engineering academy for its global engineering workforce
Software giant SAP has opened its new SAP Academy for Engineering on the company’s San Ramon, Calif. campus. Designed by HGA, the Engineering Academy will provide professional development opportunities for SAP’s global engineering workforce. At the Engineering Academy, cohorts from SAP offices across the globe will come together for intensive, six-month training programs.
Office Buildings | Dec 6, 2022
‘Chicago’s healthiest office tower’ achieves LEED Gold, WELL Platinum, and WiredScore Platinum
Goettsch Partners (GP) recently completed 320 South Canal, billed as “Chicago’s healthiest office tower,” according to the architecture firm. Located across the street from Chicago Union Station and close to major expressways, the 51-story tower totals 1,740,000 sf. It includes a conference center, fitness center, restaurant, to-go market, branch bank, and a cocktail lounge in an adjacent structure, as well as parking for 324 cars/electric vehicles and 114 bicycles.
Mixed-Use | Dec 6, 2022
Houston developer plans to convert Kevin Roche-designed ConocoPhillips HQ to mixed-use destination
Houston-based Midway, a real estate investment, development, and management firm, plans to redevelop the former ConocoPhillips corporate headquarters site into a mixed-use destination called Watermark District at Woodcreek.
Office Buildings | Dec 5, 2022
How to foster collaboration and inspiration for a workplace culture that does not exist (yet)
A building might not be able to “hack” innovation, but it can create the right conditions to foster connection and innovation, write GBBN's Chad Burke and Zachary Zettler.
Giants 400 | Dec 1, 2022
Top 100 Office Building Core+Shell Contractors and CM Firms for 2022
Turner Construction, AECOM, Clayco, and Gilbane top the ranking of the nation's largest office building core+shell contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Dec 1, 2022
Top 75 Office Building Core+Shell Engineering + EA Firms for 2022
Jacobs, Alfa Tech, Burns & McDonnell, and Arup head the ranking of the nation's largest office building core+shell engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Dec 1, 2022
Top 150 Office Building Core+Shell Architecture + AE Firms for 2022
Gensler, NBBJ, Perkins and Will, and Stantec top the ranking of the nation's largest office building core+shell architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 29, 2022
Number of office-to-apartment conversion projects has jumped since start of pandemic
As remote work rose and demand for office space declined since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, developers have found converting some offices to residential use to be an attractive option. Apartment conversions rose 25% in the two years since the start of the pandemic, with 28,000 new units converted from other property types, according to a report from RentCafe.
Giants 400 | Nov 28, 2022
Top 130 Office Sector Contractors and CM Firms for 2022
Turner Construction, STO Building Group, Gilbane, and CBRE top the ranking of the nation's largest office sector contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.