Boston, MA
Corporate interior

Originally called 150 Federal, this 1980’s glass tower never had its own individual entrance. The lobby space was shared and located in an arcade that connected Federal and High Streets, with no more than a typical security desk to greet visitors and tenants.

With the decision to give this building its own address, came CBT’s design of the new double-height lobby created by consolidating space on the first floor and removing a portion of the second level office space. The entry is reconfigured to create the lobby on High Street with a grand, curved glass wall that takes its cue from the building’s shape above. In addition to the mullion-less glass system, the building’s original pink granite is replaced with flamed, black Cambrian granite.

The 29-foot ceiling and structural glass curtain wall gives the lobby an open, airy feeling. Behind the security desk, flanking accents of honey-tone Curapixa wood and black bamboo trees soften and warm the entry. A central furniture grouping acts as sculpture and helps to define the space, while activating the quiet, white Calacatta marble floor. The elevator banks are surrounded by the same Curapixa wood as used on the entry wall. This wood also extends into the 14 renovated elevator cabs and is complemented by a patterned stainless-steel panel.

The building’s exterior planting and granite plaza has energized High Street and confirmed its address as a key location in Boston’s central business district.