The building was completed in 1912 as a new flagship location for William Filene and Sons' department store, better known as Filene's. By 1929 Filene's expanded the flagship building, converting the whole block around Washington, Summer, Hawley and Franklin streets into one department store.[2] This was the last major project by legendary Chicago architect Daniel Burnham and his only work in Boston. This building was widely regarded as one of the best examples of Beaux Arts architecture in Boston.
In 1986, the Filene's Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2006, Filene's stores were merged with Macy's phasing out the Filene's name. In a normal store merger, the old stores are converted into the new stores. But this was a problem in Boston, because the Filene's building was located across the street from another Macy's store. When Filene's did close, the Boston Landmarks Commission unanimously voted to protect two of the historic buildings that housed Filene's in Boston. The two oldest buildings were protected including the main 1912 Filene's store building and a 1905 former glassware and china seller's building on the opposite corner.[3] Two newer buildings, built in 1951 and 1973, were not protected, and were demolished in 2008.
After the store closed, the building was marketed and was eventually bought by Vornado Realty Trust of New York. Vornado teamed up with Gale International for a $700 million redevelopment of the Filene's site. The project contained a 39-story tower including a 280-room hotel, 125-seat restaurant, 475,000 square feet (44,100 m2) of office space, 166 residential condos, 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2) of retail space, and an adjacent park.[4] Although the Filene's Building is protected by the Landmarks Commission, it only protected the facade of the buildings. This allowed the developers of the site to rip out the building's interior, leaving the exterior to stand on its own. However, when the project ran out of money, the site was left completely gutted and missing walls from the razed 1951 and 1973 additions. The city of Boston eventually revoked the permit on the project.[5]
The site was taken over by another developer, Millennium Partners of New York. Plans include 135,000 square feet (12,500 m2) of retail on the lower floors and nearly 200,000 square feet (19,000 m2) office space on the upper floors, including a restoration of many original architectural details. The project also includes a glass tower next door, which will contain 450 luxury residences and another 95,000 square feet (8,800 m2) of retail space.[5]
Irish clothing company Primark opened its first U.S. store September 10, 2015, on the first four floors of the restored Burnham Building; Roche Bros. supermarket occupies the basement, with an additional grab-and-go shop at street level on Summer Street. Havas and Arnold Worldwide occupy floors 5-8.
^Kopytek, Bruce (October 2011). "Filene's". The Department Store Museum. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
^Palmer Jr., Thomas C. (May 10, 2006). "City makes Filene's site a landmark. Two of 4 buildings must be preserved". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
^"City OK's redevelopment of historic Filene's block". The Boston Globe. August 18, 2007.
^ abRoss, Casey (April 12, 2013). "Filene's project to resume as major tenant signed". Boston Globe. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Filene's Department Store.
City of Boston, Landmarks Commission. Filene's Complex Study Report, 2006
Article from The Brickbuilder (1912) with floor plans
April 12, 2024
filene, department, store, this, article, about, flagship, store, department, store, chain, filene, department, store, building, washington, street, downtown, crossing, boston, massachusetts, flagship, store, filene, department, store, chain, building, been, r. This article is about the flagship store For the department store chain see Filene s Filene s Department Store was a department store building at 426 Washington Street in Downtown Crossing Boston Massachusetts It was the flagship store of the Filene s department store chain The building has been renovated and now serves as the offices for Havas and Arnold Worldwide The building is maintained as part of the Millennium Tower It is now home to fast fashion retailer Primark Filene s Department StoreU S National Register of Historic PlacesLocationBoston MassachusettsCoordinates42 21 19 78 N 71 3 36 82 W 42 3554944 N 71 0602278 W 42 3554944 71 0602278Built1911ArchitectDaniel H Burnham amp Co Architectural styleBeaux ArtsNRHP reference No 86001909 1 Added to NRHPJuly 24 1986 Contents 1 History 1 1 Development and use 1 2 Sale and refurbishment 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editDevelopment and use edit nbsp Filene s in an early 20th century postcardThe building was completed in 1912 as a new flagship location for William Filene and Sons department store better known as Filene s By 1929 Filene s expanded the flagship building converting the whole block around Washington Summer Hawley and Franklin streets into one department store 2 This was the last major project by legendary Chicago architect Daniel Burnham and his only work in Boston This building was widely regarded as one of the best examples of Beaux Arts architecture in Boston In 1986 the Filene s Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places In 2006 Filene s stores were merged with Macy s phasing out the Filene s name In a normal store merger the old stores are converted into the new stores But this was a problem in Boston because the Filene s building was located across the street from another Macy s store When Filene s did close the Boston Landmarks Commission unanimously voted to protect two of the historic buildings that housed Filene s in Boston The two oldest buildings were protected including the main 1912 Filene s store building and a 1905 former glassware and china seller s building on the opposite corner 3 Two newer buildings built in 1951 and 1973 were not protected and were demolished in 2008 Sale and refurbishment edit See also Millennium Tower Boston Massachusetts After the store closed the building was marketed and was eventually bought by Vornado Realty Trust of New York Vornado teamed up with Gale International for a 700 million redevelopment of the Filene s site The project contained a 39 story tower including a 280 room hotel 125 seat restaurant 475 000 square feet 44 100 m2 of office space 166 residential condos 300 000 square feet 28 000 m2 of retail space and an adjacent park 4 Although the Filene s Building is protected by the Landmarks Commission it only protected the facade of the buildings This allowed the developers of the site to rip out the building s interior leaving the exterior to stand on its own However when the project ran out of money the site was left completely gutted and missing walls from the razed 1951 and 1973 additions The city of Boston eventually revoked the permit on the project 5 The site was taken over by another developer Millennium Partners of New York Plans include 135 000 square feet 12 500 m2 of retail on the lower floors and nearly 200 000 square feet 19 000 m2 office space on the upper floors including a restoration of many original architectural details The project also includes a glass tower next door which will contain 450 luxury residences and another 95 000 square feet 8 800 m2 of retail space 5 Irish clothing company Primark opened its first U S store September 10 2015 on the first four floors of the restored Burnham Building Roche Bros supermarket occupies the basement with an additional grab and go shop at street level on Summer Street Havas and Arnold Worldwide occupy floors 5 8 See also editMillennium Tower Boston Massachusetts National Register of Historic Places listings in northern Boston MassachusettsReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 Kopytek Bruce October 2011 Filene s The Department Store Museum Retrieved September 5 2020 Palmer Jr Thomas C May 10 2006 City makes Filene s site a landmark Two of 4 buildings must be preserved The Boston Globe Retrieved September 5 2020 City OK s redevelopment of historic Filene s block The Boston Globe August 18 2007 a b Ross Casey April 12 2013 Filene s project to resume as major tenant signed Boston Globe Retrieved September 5 2020 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Filene s Department Store Entry on Emporis dead link Skyscraperpage com forum on One Franklin Street City of Boston Landmarks Commission Filene s Complex Study Report 2006 Article from The Brickbuilder 1912 with floor plans Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Filene 27s Department Store amp oldid 1166718702, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
