Thearchitecture of Boston is a robust combination of old and new architecture. As one of the oldest cities in North America,Boston, Massachusetts (along with its surrounding area) has accumulated buildings and structures ranging from the 17th-century to the present day, having evolved from a small port town to a large cosmopolitan center for education, industry, finance, and technology. The city is known for itsgranite buildings stemming from its early days.[1] It is also known for being one of the origins ofFederal Architecture.[2]
Boston was founded by Puritan settlers. With them, they brought architecture from England, which ultimately morphed intocolonial-style buildings when mixed with other styles such asGeorgian architecture. Certain buildings such as thePaul Revere House,Old State House and originallyFaneuil Hall embodied this style. TheBoston Common was established in 1634, and is now the oldest park in the United States.[3] It originally touchedmudflats that led into the harbor, which have since been filled in to form theBack Bay neighborhood and theBoston Public Garden. The land-reclamation project of the early 19th century gradually changed the geography of Boston from a peninsular town with a narrow isthmus connecting it into the mainland into the current coastline seen today.[4][5]
TheAmerican Revolution resulted in many fortifications being built, notably inDorchester Heights. Following the war which led to American independence,Federal architecture blossomed in the city withCharles Bulfinch andAsher Benjamin as lead architect in that style.[6] It was also accompanied byGreek Revival, with Benjamin as one of the leading architects there. TheMassachusetts State House and the rebuilt Faneuil Hall are prime examples of Federal architecture. Many Federal-style buildings and rowhouses can be found in the neighborhood ofBeacon Hill.[6]
In the early 19th century, many buildings in the city were criticized as plain-looking and conservatively planned. However, under new architectGridley J.F. Bryant, son of the engineerGridley Bryant, Boston gained numerous buildings and structures during a period of growth that saw the construction of manyVictorian-style public buildings. These include theQuincy School, Massachusetts State House's second addition, the 1847 version ofSalem station,Charles Street Jail,Ballou Hall,the Old City Hall,Arlington Street Church and others.[7]
Bryant's partner (John Hubbard Sturgis) and apprentice (Charles Brigham) have also been very influential on 19th-century architecture in Boston, at one time partnering up to start their own firm. Their 1876 building for theBoston Museum of Fine Arts (since demolished) was one of their signature works.[8]
The iconic train stations for the city, namely South Station andNorth Station, were originally constructed during the close of the century to centralize transportation. Despite undergoing numerous renovations, they are still used today.
The early 20th century introducedArt Deco buildings into the city and taller buildings. The Custom House Tower was notable for being an expansion of the originalCustom House building and being the first building to surpass the 125 feet (38 m) height restriction, as it was exempt from city ordinances due to being federally owned. Theoriginal John Hancock Tower was added in 1947. Sports venues such asFenway Park and theBoston Garden were built during this time as well.
The Interstate Highway system was built during the latter 20th century after many years of planning. Construction of theCentral Artery (Interstate 93) and theMassachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) provided better roads into the city but resulted in the demolition of numerous buildings and disruption of neighborhoods. In addition, they led to heavy traffic congestion. The Central Artery, in particular, consisted of the two bounds of elevated highway stacked on top of each other. It was loathed by many of the city's inhabitants, who called it "The Distressway", "the largest parking lot in the world", and "otherGreen Monster" in reference to the green paint of the section in Fenway Park.
Boston City Hall was built during this time, and was a classic example ofBrutalist architecture used mainly for government buildings. TheGovernment Center neighborhood, consisting of courthouses and other federal and state buildings, was built around City Hall, as part of an effort to gentrify the formerScollay Square.
Two of the most iconic skyscrapers in Boston were built during the latter 20th century. ThePrudential Tower, located inBack Bay, was completed in 1964, while theJohn Hancock Tower, which was the third such building constructed by John Hancock Insurance, was completed in 1976. The tower, now known as200 Claredon Street, remains the tallest building in Boston andNew England. The Prudential and Hancock Towers anchor a string of skyscrapers in Back Bay known as theHigh Spine, which stands out against the surrounding Victorian-era buildings of the neighborhood. Many of the skyscrapers in the Financial District were also built during the 1960s and 1970s as part of a skyscraper boom.
One of the biggest engineering projects in Boston during the onset of the 2000s was theBig Dig, which effectively moved the elevated highway portion of the Central Artery underground into tunnels. This freed up some space which was converted into surface-level streets and a new public park, now called theRose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. In addition, I-90 was extended toBoston Logan International Airport.
The 2000s saw a revival of skyscraper building after a dormant 1990s decade. A number ofcontemporary skyscrapers, such as theMillennium Tower were built, but others such asOne Lincoln Street incorporated elements of past styles such as Art Deco into its design.
Many of Boston's tallest buildings are in two areas, namely the Back Bay neighborhood andDowntown, which can be divided into Government Center, theFinancial Center,Downtown Crossing, among others. Other neighborhoods such asNorth End,South Boston, andDorchester have distinctive architectural styles, in addition to surrounding suburbs such asCambridge andBrookline.
As the state capital ofMassachusetts and one of the largest cities in the Northeast, Boston is home to many government and municipal buildings which range in architectural styles. These buildings include but are not limited to:
TheBrutalist City Hall building has been one of the most divisive buildings in the city, sparking outrage from certain people who call for its demolition,[9] but being praised by architects and critics as one of the proudest buildings in the city's history.[10]
Boston is known as a majorcollege town, being home to many academic institutions such asMassachusetts Institute of Technology,Harvard University,Northeastern University,Boston College,Boston University,Tufts University,Suffolk University, and others. Their campuses contain notable buildings in traditional and contemporary styles.[11] They include:
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Boston is home to many religious buildings as part of its Christian heritage. There are numerous large cathedrals such asSt. Leonard's Church, theCathedral of the Holy Cross, theFirst Church in Boston, and theOld South Church. In addition, the Old South Meeting House is a formerPuritan church known as the meeting house of theBoston Tea Party. More modern buildings include the recent additions toThe First Church of Christ, Scientist, originally designed and built byCharles Brigham, as part of theChristian Science Center.
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The first true skyscraper in the city was the 13-storyAmes Building, but since then, more skyscrapers have been built, with most of them rising in the latter half of the 20th century. There are also numerous buildings currently proposed or under construction.
| Rank | Name | Height ft (m) | Floors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.01 | John Hancock Tower (200 Claredon Street)[12] | 01.0790 (241) | 60 |
| 02.02 | Prudential Tower[13] | 02.0749 (228) | 52 |
| 02.03 | Four Seasons Hotel & Private Residences, One Dalton Street[14] | 03.0742 (226) | 61 |
| 03.04 | Millennium Tower[15] | 04.0685 (209) | 60 |
| 04.05 | Federal Reserve Bank Building[16][17] | 04.0614 (187) | 32 |
| 05.06 | One Boston Place[18][19] | 05.0601 (183) | 41 |
| 06.07 | One International Place[20][21] | 06.0600 (183) | 46 |
| 07.08 | 100 Federal Street[22][23] | 07.0591 (180) | 37 |
| 08.09 | One Financial Center[24][25] | 08.0590 (180) | 46 |
| 09.010 | 111 Huntington Avenue[26][27] | 09.0554 (169) | 36 |
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