Rendering by Diller Scofidio + Renfro.
Boston University has filed plans for an 12-story building to house the Pardee School, home to all of its international-studies programs.
Unlike BU's Jenga Building on Commonwealth Avenue, which stretches in various directions as it rises above Commonwealth Avenue, the proposed Pardee building on Bay State Road would have the basis shape of a more traditional modern building -Â but with large Tetris-like see-through windows on all four sides - according to its filing with the Boston Planning Department.
The building would replace a parking lot near the intersection with Granby Street next to the School of Social Work and BU Beach.
The Project will replace the existing permit-only surface parking lot on the south side of Bay State Road and on-site parking will be eliminated. Pedestrian access will be provided primarily via existing sidewalks along Commonwealth Avenue connecting with existing footpaths southwest of the Project Site, along with other academic buildings on this block, and via Granby Street and Bay State Road to the southeast and east of the Project Site. The existing service driveway located on the east side of the Project Site will be retained and upgraded to accommodate delivery needs of the new building as well as those for existing buildings which share the driveway.Â
As an associated public realm improvement, the Project proposes to create a pick- up/drop-off curb area at the northeast corner of the Project Site at the existing turn- around. This will allow non-BU vehicles, including rideshare vehicles, to reverse direction and exit via Bay State Road to Granby Street and Commonwealth Avenue.Â
Although the Project does not include vehicle parking, new bicycle storage and bicyclist amenities within and around the proposed new building will be provided, in addition to the full replacement of existing bicycle storage spaces.
BU formed the Pardee School of Global Studies in 2014, marrying its department of international relations with seven small centers focusing on various parts of the world. But to date, the school remains scattered among various buildings on the BU campus.
Building on the goals and aspirations of Pardee School, the building design was inspired by the idea of strengthening community. Three primary design principles drove the conceptual foundation for how to develop the building vision: Campus Connectivity, Building Neighborhood, and Carbon Neutrality.
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Comments
How about calling it the Tetris Building?
By CopleyScott17
Wed, 02/12/2025 - 4:54pm
Then build the next one with all the girders exposed and call it the Donkey Kong Building. I'm liking this theme!
Still waiting
By Plen-T-Pak
Wed, 02/12/2025 - 5:18pm
For them to build on that parking lot in Kenmore square.Â
Jenga
By Will
Wed, 02/12/2025 - 5:24pm
That's a weird way to describe the Jenga Building. The last thing it does is "stretch". It stretches like LEGOs stretch. Like bricks or ice cubes. If your waistband stretched like that you'd be damn sore.
Let me out!
By Lanny Budd
Wed, 02/12/2025 - 6:19pm
The moldy corpse of John Silver is scratching furiously at the coffin lid trying to escape and make his displeasure known about the current state of architecture.
Long John Silber?
By Plen-T-Pak
Wed, 02/12/2025 - 7:22pm
With his snooty attitude and fish sandwiches?
Obscure fact
By Lanny Budd
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 10:15am
At one of the earliest performances of the Beatles, the promoters did not like that the group had a simple name, as all the other bands at the time were Blank and the Blanks. So the promoters credited them on the poster announcing the gig as Long John and the Silver Beatles.
Nah
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 1:43pm
Those scratching noises are him celebrating the fascism and clamoring to join the current federal government.
It's going to house the Pardee School?
By Neal
Wed, 02/12/2025 - 7:03pm
What are they gonna name it, The Animal House?
With your gift of
By TongueInCheek
Fri, 02/21/2025 - 8:31pm
$100,000,000 and BU will happily slap a surname of your choice on the building.
DS+R is one my favorite firms
By malcolm
Wed, 02/12/2025 - 7:13pm
DS+R is one my favorite firms, and I've been waiting to see the rendering. They came to prominence designing ICA back in the day, and now they're quite a prolific, international firm.
Looks great; jealous (as a Pardee alum) that I was not able to experience it.
University of Toronto Academic Wood Tower
By Francis Anthony
Sun, 02/23/2025 - 4:18am
You should check out UT Academic Wood Tower which I believe is wood on steel platform. Not opposed to the clean lines on the BU project (and I get the purpose behind the small footprint) but to me the Architects on the UT building made the external profile more interesting leading to a “wow factor.†Hopefully, BU can build something similar to the UT Academic Wood Tower next door for the School of Social Work. At that site, the students could have excellent views of the lawn space behind Marsh Chapel, the BU Beach, and the Charles River. In my opinion, that site is premium and could lift the heart of the BU Campus.
Really?
By Francis Anthony
Wed, 02/12/2025 - 9:25pm
Please tell me that they are still working on the design. The Jenga Building is cool and interesting. This new building planned for the Pardee School is just ugly. Maybe BU should rework that area, demolish the adjacent buildings that house the School of Social Work, and build something for both programs that is better than a box tucked in between the lot. They should also add green space/landscaping for people to enjoy. I like what they did renovating and making the addition to the Law School. It created a balance to the tall structure. Somebody put a lot of love and thought into that project.
I am holder of a BU degree in International Relations, which is taught by one of the departments of Pardee School. Therefore, this news about the building design is rather depressing.
Check out page 210 for the landscape plan!
By spin_o_rama
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 12:04am
https://bpda.app.box.com/s/b7okiojdovubbjx4uge3qaudwukrq1bw
Much appreciated!
By Francis Anthony
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 1:42am
Thank you for the link. Go BU!
BU Beach? Ha!
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 1:48pm
BU Beach? Ha!
In addition with spin said
By malcolm
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 11:47am
In addition with spin said about the green space, I don't think it makes sense to take down the Social Work building because 1) it's wasteful, particularly as it relates to embodied carbon; and 2) those older brick buildings give the campus a lot of its character. (As opposed to the faux retro buildings of the Silber era.)
I've lived in New York since 2010 and have been here for many of DS+R's projects, including the High Line, and a few of the new buildings for Columbia's Business and Medical schools. They do fantastic work, and this building looks like it will be a really nice and modern addition, while replacing a parking lot that shouldn't even exist.
Hello Mr. Francis, As a
By Katherine Greenough
Fri, 02/14/2025 - 9:55am
Hello Mr. Francis, As a community activist for over 40 years in the Fenway/Kenmore area, I would urge you not to count on even the most minor change to this Pardee building.
Boston University has had a lock on the BRA/BPDA board and all the City’s approval and license processes for over 40 years. What BU wants, BU gets, despite the fact that they do not pay property taxes!
Nothing is ever changed in the slightest, including what would be essential for this building, which is to include parking. To offer no parking for a 13 story building is asking for increased congestion.
Mayor Wu, the BPDA and its staff believe that everyone living and working in Boston and even visitors should be walking or bicycling, and that if they do not provide parking, that parking will not be necessary because no one will have cars. It is insane.
Oh, Dear Ms. Katherine G.
By Francis Anthony
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 12:09am
I support your right to advocate for what you sincerely believe is important for the community in which you live. However, I love BU — truly love BU — not so much this new BU, but the latter stages of John Silber’s BU with its respect for the opposite sex and strong rules that somewhat curtailed the wildest urges of Youth. Remember when girls could not come to our dorm rooms after a certain hour, or at least should not be there? I am Liberal on certain issues and Conservative on others but I do prefer a strong BU with interesting buildings, and trees, benches, and grass for students to enjoy, more so than Parking Lots. For me, the birds and the bees and the trees are Paradise. Please listen to “Big Yellow Taxi†by Counting Crows. An old song, yes!
Mass Timber Structure!
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:35pm
Very exciting to see!
Makes Sense
By John Costello
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 7:48am
The price of steel keeps going up.
UMass (I think) has a mass timber design program and last time I checked, trees grow back and sequester carbon. Â
Exactly!
By spin_o_rama
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 9:27am
If you didn't yet, check out the BPDA filling. Page 228 talks about an 87% drop in carbon compared with steel construction!
https://bpda.app.box.com/s/b7okiojdovubbjx4uge3qaudwukrq1bw
Â
Hat tip
By BostonDog
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 10:58am
You have my accolades for really reading through that ~300 page document.Â
Well worth the time to read
By Francis Anthony
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 11:50am
The document shines light on the project and makes it more appealing. However, I still do not like the external shape of the building. Regarding steel, some builders are using something called Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) rebars. I am not a construction engineer so I do not know if GFRP is a good substitute for steel in a high rise.
"Read"
By spin_o_rama
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 2:13pm
To be fair, it was mostly scrolling and stopping to look at the drawings vs. reading the text haha
And it shows!
By blues_lead
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 11:32am
The design specifically celebrates the mass timber, and I think that's wonderful!
The proposal for the Poor Clair's site is also a mass timber structure, but you wouldn't know that from the design. I commented on the project (in support) that I was disappointed that it wasn't featured, it would complement the Arboretum and contrast nicely with the original structure.
Great design
By Jm Curley
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 12:41am
I love the design of this, great to see more contemporary architecture on Comm ave, also love the mass timber.
Sean A. Gallagher's website
By Francis Anthony
Wed, 02/26/2025 - 2:54pm
Just want to highlight the website of Sean A. Gallagher, Principal and Director of Sustainable Development DS+R, and the part of the design called "BU Central Green." Obviously, DS+R have put a lot of thought into harmonizing the central part of BU. Note that the "Future Development" situates the School of Social Work closer to Marsh Chapel. As a result, the green behind the College of Arts & Sciences will be full of life and light, open and expansive. The community for the School of Social Work will also be invigorated. Now that is something that excite me too.
See, https://www.seanagallagher.com/timbertower
I hope…
By Ward8Mahatma
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 7:12am
…they take into consideration how the sun will reflect off the building. At this time of year the Jenga building blinds drivers on Storrow Drive as the sun rises. It’s particularly bad at the Fenway off ramp
They did in fact take that into consideration!
By spin_o_rama
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 9:25am
Page 232 https://bpda.app.box.com/s/b7okiojdovubbjx4uge3qaudwukrq1bw
I lived roughly there
By AP
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 12:14pm
for three of the four years I was at BU. Bay State Road is full of gorgeous historic buildings, and I do not know why BU is addicted, instead, to infilling that portion of campus with ugly buildings that look like they belong at some third-tier state U in the middle of nowhere.
You have a naturally gorgeous and unique environment as your campus. There's very few other universities that have such a uniquely gorgeous, historic urban setting. Stop trashing it with edgelord architecture.
I didn't know the Jenga
By anon
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 12:42pm
I didn't know the Jenga Building was called such, it doesn't look like Jenga but a pile of books right? This new building looks much more like a Jenga tower to me. In any case it looks cool, maximum kudos to BU for improving our skyline with these interesting buildings. Picked up where MIT left off!
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