Boston, MA

This Concept Proposal developed by Henry MacLean, AIA while teaching at Wentworth Institute of Technology, calls for the integration of Green/Ecological Architecture and Planning for the future development of Boston City Hall and it's Plaza. As part of this master plan, a permanent Ecological Research, Education/Demonstration and Monitoring Center for the City of Boston and the New England region is suggested.

This facility would be open to the public, integrated with restaurants and new commercial spaces, a redeveloped plaza landscape and additional reclaimed public space in the building. By coordinating security concerns with the 3 main building entries, City Hall could function as a bridge (figuratively and literally) between Quincy Market and City Hall Plaza, instead of serving as the wall it is now.

In this study we identified an energy and resource savings of $1 million dollars per year achieved by the refurbishing of the building's mechanical system with new Heat Recovery Ventilation. The architectural reclamation of 100,000 s.f. of space including the open core and shafts of the building into winter and roof gardens will also provide substantially improved fresh air supply for the occupants. With the energy and potential for rental income, the $35 million restoration could have paid for itself in less that 7 years (numbers from 1997 study).

The proposal was presented to mayor Menino's full Cabinet in 1997, and subsequently at several Regional and national Conferences on Green Design where it received wide praise.