By Seth Daniel
Mayor Martin J. Walsh and BPDA Executive Director Brian Golden joined developer Samuels & Associates, its partner, Landsea, and construction partner John Moriarty & Associates, Inc., to celebrate the topping-off of Pierce Boston on Friday morning, Dec. 2.
Pierce Boston is a 30-story luxury residential tower located on the triangle where the former D’Angelo’s used to sit. Pierce Boston is slated to open in early 2018, and is the newest and tallest addition to the thriving Fenway neighborhood.
Standing at the corner of Boylston Street and Brookline Avenue, Samuels’ principals said Pierce Boston creates a breathtaking and dramatic gateway into the neighborhood, and the city. As the only building of its kind in the area, Pierce Boston will significantly raise the profile of the neighborhood and add to Boston’s skyline.
It is the first of several high-rises now being planned for the Fenway area, which will look to be transformed by the newer, higher buildings in the neighborhood. Others include the Charlesgate 2 proposals and the proposed air rights development over the Mass Pike – both of which are currently in review.
“I’m happy to celebrate this important construction milestone and what is sure to become one of the most recognizable landmarks in this area,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “I look forward to the addition of Boston Pierce to the city’s skyline as it provides jobs and housing to residents and comes to play a key role in our thriving Fenway neighborhood.”
At the topping off, Mayor Walsh gave a nod to the many union workers gathered for the signing ceremony, who were later fed a BBQ lunch from neighboring Sweet Cheeks BBQ, and also to the Fenway community.
“I spent two years working as the head of the Boston Building Trades, so I am encouraged to see all the construction jobs this has created,” he said. “To the Fenway community, I want to thank you for your stewardship on this.”
He also pointed out that the building will have many different facets, including affordable housing, art galleries and public amenities.
“Everything you can imagine in an individual project is all wrapped up in one package here,” he said.
Samuels Chairman Steve Samuels said the building, now at its top height, shows the kind of gateway it will be in the emerging neighborhood.
“Today marks a significant milestone in the rise of this striking gateway property and officially the tallest building in The Fenway,” said Samuels, Chairman of Samuels & Associates. “It takes an incredible number of moving pieces to get a building like this up and running and getting where we are today, with 30 complete stories. It would not have been possible without the hard work of hundreds of people that were involved.”
Pierce Boston will include 109 condominium units, 240 rental units and more than 20,000 square feet of street-level luxury dining and retail. On-site amenities will include a rooftop swimming pool, fitness center and exceptional concierge service, as well as 80 resident parking spaces. CBT is creating the interior design, presenting future residents with an artful blend of modern living, tasteful luxury and edgy urban sophistication.
Construction of Pierce Boston is being led by John Moriarty & Associates, Inc. Approximately 350 construction jobs, 200 of which are permanent, will be created in the course of the project. The building is designed by world-renowned architects Arquitectonica, their first Boston property.