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High-Profile Focus: Retail/Hospitality
August 2014
Hotel Commonwealth Expands Designed by Group One
Safety & Security Energy Conservation UV/Fade Protection Glare Reduction Architectural Designer Films
West view of Hotel Commonwealth / Rendering by Group One Partners
Boston - Hotel Commonwealth, located at 500 Commonwealth Ave. in Boston’s Back Bay, began construction recently to add 96 hotel rooms and more than 12,000sf of indoor/outdoor event space. The expansion features a grand ballroom, an outdoor terrace overlooking Fenway Park’s ‘Green Monster,’ five meeting rooms, a boardroom, three floors of valet parking, and a private event entry and prefunction space. The new facility is expected to open mid-2015. Currently the existing property is comprised of 149 hotel rooms and 30,000sf of restaurant and retail space. Construction for the hotel expansion is
co-managed by Columbia Construction and Mortenson Development, with Group One as architect. It is funded by investment partners Sage Hospitality and Fundamental Advisors. The build-out is taking place on the open air parking site at the rear of the existing hotel, facing Fenway Park and the Mass. Turnpike. Hotel operations will continue as usual during the expansion. Harry Wheeler, AIA, LEED, NCARB, principal of Group One Partners, Inc., the project architect, said, “With this expansion, the property is better able to accommodate the community’s booming tourism industry while providing more spacious rooms and first-rate event space.”
Boxman Builds For Assembly Row making places memorable
Somerville, MA - Boxman Studios, a global leader in shipping container modification, has created an all new one-of-akind dining and retail venue from shipping containers to anchor the Assembly Row neighborhood in Somerville. Assembly Row is the area’s newest shopping, dining, live/work and entertainment destination. At the corner of Canal Street and Grand Union Boulevard will be four modified 20-foot shipping containers that make up SOMBLOX, an homage to Somerville’s historically industrial past. The container courtyard is outfitted for three local businesses,
Federal Realty Assembly Row Rendering by Boxman Studios
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including Somerville Brewing Company’s American Fresh Taproom. “We love to work with companies like Federal Realty that really embrace the potential of shipping container
Federal Realty Assembly Row Rendering by Boxman Studios
architecture,” said Boxman Studios architectural designer, Taylor Bishal. “Using modern design elements like large hinged storefront windows, along with things like accent rope lighting, we’re able to merge the trendy beer garden environment with a backyard feel.” The four containers create three distinct spaces that are all ADA accessible and include electrical and lighting. Two containers are designed for retail spaces with easy-to-open eight-foot hinged storefront windows and steel doors to quickly adapt to weather conditions. A larger space for the taproom is comprised of two containers that include kitchen equipment and plumbing.