Project overview: A reimagining of the historic “Top of the Hub” aimed to repurpose underutilized and outdated space at the Prudential Tower to create a new type of public experience. View Boston is a point of arrival and point of departure for locals and visitors alike to discover the City of Boston and an iconic landmark from a new perspective.
This three-floor episodic experience is surgically woven through the building, with unique spaces stitched together through an architecturally clear manner that guides visitors intuitively though the space.
Transported into the sky, guests exit the elevators and are greeted by a view of the skyline seen through the iconic “Prudential” sign. Materials and details heighten the experience of the view through luminosity and transparency, creating an emotional connection to the City below and the sky above.
The tower’s neck was transformed into a spacious and dramatic 360-degree outdoor deck. The sublimely ethereal experience of a “barely-there” glass windscreen conceals the complex technical integration of new glazing, decking, lighting, and the path of a building maintenance unit. Carefully placed lighting and a dark backdrop minimize reflections in the glass within the field of view, while creating dramatic reflections above and below.
This reimagined observatory is a universally accessible public space that is welcoming to all. Exhibits are designed to address people of differing mobility, height, sensory capacity, and vision. Artwork fosters inclusivity by interpreting the city through the diverse lenses of local and regional artists.
Project location: Boston, Massachusetts
Firm name: Perkins&Will
Architect of Record: Perkins&Will
Completion: 2023
Client: Giuliana DiMambro
Jury comments: The project has a nice blending of interior and exterior “rooms” and spaces. There is great reuse of an underutilized space and a reimagining of a space that has been a historic, strong presence in the city for numerous years.
