In a sea of boxes constructed over the last decade in Boston’s Seaport District, the elliptical form of 121 Seaport emerges as a game-changing design and an impetus for rethinking a neighborhood in a period of feverish development. An early commitment to prioritizing sustainable design distinguishes 121 Seaport in both form and performance.
121’s elegant form cleverly belies the reasons for which it is most celebrated: its implausibly low consumption of energy and materials, highly-efficient floorplate design, innovative siting and thoughtful orientation within its surroundings. The complexities of the site, including an underground transit line, drove creative orientation and material selection, shaping the building into an unprecedented embodiment of environmentally sustainable design. By virtue of its orientation and form alone, 121 Seaport boasts a 10% reduction in façade area relative to an equal rectangular massing, a 10% reduction in foundational concrete and steel, and a 15% reduction in energy by limiting solar heat gain.
The diagonal orientation of the building establishes a strong relationship with the public realm, reducing shadows, increasing sky brightness, and reducing wind impact on adjacent parks, with a new pedestrian plaza that connects public spaces along the waterfront.
121 Seaport thoughtfully responds to the inherent character of the neighborhood and capitalizes on the site’s most distinguishing features to introduce a bold and timeless LEED-Platinum Certified building that diversifies both the skyline and streetscape, while serving as a model of sustainable design.
To see more amazing entries from this year’s WAN Awards please click here.