Since 2011, the Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) has been headquartered at 290 Congress Street, in a space designed by Höweler + Yoon. The nonprofit announced today it will relocate to a new office space with a “prominent corner-presence” at 99 Chauncy Street, to be designed by NADAAA.
The new BSA headquarters at 99 Chauncy Street will enable the professional organization to host exhibitions, lectures, and conferences, and accommodate staff workspace inside a historic, 11-story building.
The move will “allow the BSA to right-size its physical footprint,” according to a statement. “Our goal is to create a space that connects designers, nonprofits, and communities from across the city,” said Danyson Tavares, BSA executive director.
NADAAA beat out three other finalists as part of the competitive process, after BSA issued an RFQ in December. The Boston firm was selected for “the strength of its design proposal” as well as its clear understanding of the BSA’s professional and civic mission.
“As a voice for the profession, the BSA headquarters effectively serves as an embassy for the discipline: on the one hand communicating what architecture can do for the environments in which it is set, and on the other, how the profession can embody the capacity to listen to a wider audience,” said NADAAA founding principal Nader Tehrani.
BSA called NADAAA’s vision “an ambitious yet practical approach” that will meet the needs of staff members and the public more broadly. Calvin Boyd-Morlani said NADAAA’s past experiences designing architecture schools also weighed into the decision.
Today, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s goal is to transform downtown Boston into a “vibrant, 24 hour neighborhood” after the pandemic hollowed out the city’s inner core.
For the Boston Mayor’s Office, the BSA relocation project fits within the city’s overall mission to diversify downtown Boston with more arts, cultural, and residential offerings.
“We are working hard to make space for creative enterprises here and it’s great to see the BSA commit to this neighborhood,” said Joseph Henry, Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston.
“Like downtown itself,” Henry continued, “the BSA is a space of convening, mix and dialogue and their new location will create more opportunities for the public to mix with designers, and civic leaders to collectively shape Boston’s future.”
BSA aims to move into its new headquarters at 99 Chauncy Street in early 2027.
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