As the full heights of the three 21 Boston buildings come into view, it becomes apparent that there are interesting “ins and outs” to the design. The most significant inner space is the courtyard around which the buildings are set; but there are others, often part of the construction process, which say a lot about how the building is being constructed. One of these is a system of platforms that are part of the scaffolding system and which can be seen on the right hand side of the photo above and in the center below.
These are staggered so that the tower crane can get at them individually and deliver materials to several parts of each floor. In the photo above, the crane has just left a stack of bricks that will be used as part of the facade as can be seen below.
In the view above, you’re in effect standing outside the building but inside the scaffolding system which operates as a type of workshop for each floor, in order to install wall materials, windows, doors, lighting, railings and any other exterior treatments.
Below, Building A seems to pop out of the scene, but it also frames a view into the project where the future visual easement is being created between it and the existing retail shops.
From the top of Building A, there’s a striking view into the north end of the complex where the tower crane is anchored near Building C. The foreground area will provide access to the parking garage as well as space for deliveries.
Building A also marks the corner of 1st North and North Boston and the beginning of Building B, which stretches nearly the full length of the block along 1st North.
Part way down the block a large gap has been created between buildings A and B to allow access to the interior courtyard of the project; but this gap is also being spanned by a set of skybridges that connect the two buildings at their upper levels.
In the view above, the tower crane is lifting the support beams into place.
The workmen on the scissor lift then add the attachments need for filling in the floors and side enclosures – in process below.
Moving farther south, to the corner of 1st North and Crockett streets, reveals a variety of ins and outs in the form of Building B that articulate its various elements and help break down the overall scale of the larger building.
The one-story elements along the street will contain townhouse-apartments with exterior entrances through a garden area along the street. Their roofs will provide large terraces for the apartment units at the next level up. And at the top of the building a major setback in the building provides terraces for the top floor apartments – speaking of which, let’s take a look at what’s been happening up there.
This view, looking south along the 1st Avenue North side of Building B, clearly shows the generous terrace space available at the top level. The same effect, slightly more finished, can be seen looking west towards the Olympic mountains beyond building C.
Another dramatic view looks in the opposite direction – into the large interior courtyard.
Although it’s a bit of a materials storage yard at the moment, it’s gradually being transformed into a large garden courtyard with large raised planters – see below.
Finally, here are some of the areas where work is progressing on the interiors.
The exterior, prefabricated panel walls have been assembled and braced and the floor joists and sheathing added for the floor (or roof) above. Then insulation fills the stud spaces.
Here some of the mechanical fit-out has been added – the blue HVAC unit (connected to the heat pump system by the white tubing) and the outlets for lighting and power. As these elements get completed and checked, the wall finishes follow closely behind – below.
This view also gives a sense of how the terraces and outlook over the landscape will look. In some cases the beginnings of space dividers – here for a kitchen island – also appear.
Finally, to see some of the big ins and outs, we need to drop down to the lower levels. Here are some of the support systems elements being installed in the garage level, below the first level Safeway store.
And at the Safeway level itself, more scissor lift action, to be able to work at ceiling level.
For a final in and out, here’s a look at the main Safeway space –
and its look out to the future courtyard at the corner of Queen Anne Ave and Crockett St.
For those of you who have wondered, the targets are for the Safeway to open Fall of 2024 and for the housing units to come on line the following spring. These targets may vary a bit depending on construction circumstances, weather, and other elements; so I’ll try to keep you up to date as we get closer to completion.
Travel Design Impressions 