![]() Harrison also noted that the move enables Hancock to save on real estate costs. In her memo, Harrison told employees that Hancock is continuing to work on plans for the tower, but did not elaborate. The Old Hancock Tower is a coveted landmark to the people of Boston.Several Boston-area real estate professionals said that if Hancock is rooting itself in the Back Bay, the proposed building would provide the logical next place to grow. The beacons connection to the residents of Boston and the cities beloved baseball team makes the Old Hancock Tower a staple in the culture of Boston. Boston residents have a connection to the weather beacon and the information it sends to the city. In addition, in 2004, after the Boston Red Sox historic World Series win a second line was added to the poem: “Flashing blue and red, when The Curse of the Bambino is Dead!” to celebrate the cities championship win. A short poem was written by Bostonians to decipher the forecast of the Hancock Tower weather beacon: A different sequence of lights translates to the weather forecast for the day. Adrianna Borgia of Boston Magazine explains the relevance of the weather beacon to the people of Boston, “There are bigger buildings and brighter lights that dot our skyline, but at this time of year-when New England weather is at its trickiest-none draw Bostonians’ eyes to the skies like the Berkeley Building and its famous storm beacon.” (Borgia 1). The famous beacon of the Old Hancock Tower is not only an architectural work of art but also a cultural staple of living in Boston.Īlmost every Bostonian knows the hundreds of neon lights along the spire of the tower tell the weather forecast for the day to the people of Boston. At the top of the pyramid style roof to the tower, a large, 60 foot, illuminated spire is mounted in view for the entire city. In addition to its architectural style, the Old Hancock Tower “…makes a uniquely identifiable form on the skyline, with its truncated stepped pyramid and weather beacon” (Southworth 224). The outer face of the building is decorated with stone featuring art deco styling such as geometric features tucked into its ledges and corners. The Art Deco façade distinguishes the Old Hancock Tower from other large scale structures in Boston. ![]() The buildings unique architecture has made it one of the most prominent buildings in Boston’s skyline. Cram and Ferguson chose an Art Deco styling, fitting of the period it was created. The New England architecture firm Cram and Ferguson was chosen to design the building. The project was the first of many in an architectural revolution in Boston. In today’s money, this comes out to a little under $164,000,000 (“John Hancock Building Job Goes to New York Company”, Boston Globe). The initial contract was for $15,000,000. ![]() It was also designed to have a giant atrium and auditorium to host beautiful galas and events that could hold thousands of people. The building was designed to be a bold standout building among the Boston Skyline. The massive influx of business drove Hancock Financial to pursue a newer and larger corporate headquarters which would develop to be the Old Hancock Tower. Between 1941-1944 the company sold over 7 million life insurance policies: 1/10 of all life insurances policies in America (“John Hancock Life Showed Greatest Progress in 1943”, Boston Globe). John Hancock is an insurance company that was started in 1862 in Boston, Massachusetts which made its name from life insurance policies during World War II. It would become the new home for the Boston based John Hancock Insurance Company. The Back Bay would continue to grow in the coming years and in 1947 the tower, standing at 26 stories, 495 feet would be completed. The first building of its kind in the Back Bay area which at the time was “a Boston neighborhood dominated by row houses and tree-lined avenues.” (A Digital Archive of American Architecture). The Old Hancock Tower, also known as the Berkeley Building, is a landmark of Boston located in the cities famous Back Bay neighborhood. ![]() By Charlie Pigott, Dylan Freitas, Thomas Lefavor Text ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |