The Fort Point Channel, which has witnessed Boston develop over the years, right from the historic Tea Party, connects several prominent structures across it. A new corporate headquarters emerges with a front-row seat to the river. Although contemporary, it includes elements of color and architectural features that pay respect to the subtle brick-laden facades of the neighborhood. Due to its height and location, the facade is visible across many vantage points, which provided for a lighting design challenge that not only celebrated a new landmark but also respected the neighborhood and the river.

Terraces and balconies of varying sizes jut out of the building, while others are carved into it. A warm wood-like ceiling unifies these spaces across the facade. To express only the warmth of the ceiling planes, the wood was uplit with lights woven into the sills of the facade. The optics and aiming were carefully coordinated to ensure that minimal uplight escaped the extents of the canopies.

The gesture of lighting the warm wood extends throughout the facade into the brows projected from each floor. Acknowledging potential sightlines into the fixtures from the interior spaces, fixture locations were calibrated in addition to glare-control louvers and careful aiming.

The inverted frustum sits atop a brick podium delineated by pilasters. To visually homogenize the two elements, the pilasters are uplit with individual grazers, creating an upward flow that strengthens the podium cage to visually support the upper ingot.

Since the building is experienced from multiple vantage points, photometrically accurate modeling was integral to the design process to ensure all views of the facade felt intentional and respectful of the South End and the river.