Seaport Square

HARIRI & HARIRI ARCHITECTURE

2020

The Architecture of this mixed-use, 700,000 SF building combines two levels of retail at the ground and second floors with 20 levels of commercial office space above. It will also house the Seaport Performing Arts Center (SeaPAC) on levels two and three, comprised of three flexible theaters with a total of 750 seats.

The site is bounded on two sides by Harbor Way and Harbor Square Park, major new public open spaces that will help increase connectivity within and across the Seaport, designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations. The building connects to these spaces at street level, enhancing the experience along Harbor Way and Harbor Square, and, with the neighboring buildings, forms the four walls of an “urban room” surrounding Harbor Square.

Conceptually the aim here is to promote “interaction” between retail, office and performing arts components in order to foster a sense of community and enhance the life of the building, whilst also providing discrete access for each function. A sculptural volume responding to the site is wrapped in an extruded aluminum skin that not only acts as a shading device, but also creates a distinctive and dynamic facade. A massive, 7-story void running east-west through the building provides a central gathering space, bringing together the varied users of the building across multiple levels of outdoor terraces, and visually linking the public and private spaces of the retail, office and performing arts venues. This void also forms a public passageway through the building, further increasing the connectivity to Harbor Square and boosting the building’s public presence. Private lobbies for commercial tenants are accessed from Boston Wharf Road whilst the SeaPAC lobby is given a prominent, public position facing Harbor Square Park. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought awareness to the necessity of fresh air and access to outdoor spaces. This project provides a multitude of gardens, roof terraces, outdoor spaces & balconies for its occupants throughout the sculpted volume of its architecture.