Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, the Pier 4 office building is a striking addition to the architectural landscape of the Seaport District as visible from the water and the new Seaport District neighborhood.
At 200 Pier 4, the architects did more than design a 13-story, 385,000 square foot mixed-use office building with underground parking on a challenging waterfront parcel; they created a striking addition to the architectural landscape in harmony with Boston’s burgeoning Seaport District.
Pier 4 Office Building was awarded a 2022 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The building’s prime waterfront location determined the design of an iconic building that would have high visibility from Boston Harbor and the Seaport neighborhood.
Non-interlocking, shifting façade movements – an architectural first in Boston – allow each building face to interact with its neighbors.
The east-facing façade composed of two-story, bump-out ‘waves’ expresses the motion of the harbor and the assertive western façade stands up to the city’s skyline with a subdued convex gesture.
The use of kiss mullions and structural silicone joints allows for clean, reflective surfaces across all faces.
Retail venues activate the ground level, accessible from the street or from inside the building’s permeable lobby space.
The lobby also serves as an inviting indoor ‘street’ and reinforces the connection with the water.
Class A amenities include an outdoor terrace and top-floor penthouse, a second-floor fitness center and a rentable public meeting space.
The open-air glass penthouse features two walls (North and West facing) planted with Boston ivy and coniferous plants that resist the emptiness of foliage in winter and offers city and harbor views.
From fluid elements that reflect and interact with their surroundings to a welcoming, street-level environment, the design of 200 Pier 4 demonstrates place-making at its finest.
Project: Pier 4 Office Building
Architects: Elkus Manfredi Architects
Landscape Architects: Reed Hilderbrand LLC.
Developers: Tishman Speyer Properties
Owners: Commonwealth Partners
Photographers: Hao Liang
