Our Work

Giving new life to an

architectural icon

ESI revitalized a landmark I.M. Pei building, creating a new, sophisticated experience for tenants.

ESI transformed the cavernous and somewhat cold lobby into one that is fresh and inviting.

Boston’s landmark 177 Huntington Avenue is one of four buildings I.M. Pei designed for the Christian Science Plaza. The owner, Beacon Capital Partners, wanted to increase the building’s profile and appeal to technology- and media-savvy tenants. ESI Design worked with architecture firm NBBJ on a redesign that celebrates and enlivens the building’s modernist architecture.

In the lobby, custom LED lighting, hidden in strips of brushed steel, reflects off the polished cement wall. The ambient media, also visible from outside the building, visually interprets changing weather conditions, the seasons, and the ripples on the reflecting pool outside on the plaza. New seating invites visitors to mingle and relax.

In the elevator bay, high-resolution, 22-feet-by-6-inch LEDs extending from the floor to the ceiling display information about the neighborhood, local events, weather, and the stock market.

On the exterior of the building, the top and bottom of the plaza-facing side are illuminated by soft washes, respectfully setting it within its surroundings. On the side facing the Massachusetts Turnpike, a band of light spans the height of the building, making it visible to passing traffic.

Today, 177 Huntington stands out on the plaza and in the city, its tenants have a “place” to work in, and Boston has a refreshed landmark that is positioned firmly in the present.

Experience Design

Concept

Content

Data Visualization

Media

Software

Exhibits

Games

Graphics

Interiors

Sound

Staff Training

Systems

Wayfinding

Activities

Identity

Production

"Custom LED fixtures now grace the building’s concrete façade and several areas across its cavernous lobby, resulting in a series of humanly scaled spaces with a renewed sense of visual interest."

Architectural Digest

1960s I.M. Pei building

AWARDS

2017 BOMA Middle Atlantic Outstanding Building of the Year Award – Winner, Renovated Building

2016 BOMA Boston Outstanding Building of the Year Award – Winner, Renovated Building

Latest

Related Work

177 Huntington Avenue

Boston, MA • 2014

Giving new life to an

architectural icon

ESI revitalized a landmark I.M. Pei building, creating a new, sophisticated experience for tenants.

ESI transformed the cavernous and somewhat cold lobby into one that is fresh and inviting.

Boston’s landmark 177 Huntington Avenue is one of four buildings I.M. Pei designed for the Christian Science Plaza. The owner, Beacon Capital Partners, wanted to increase the building’s profile and appeal to technology- and media-savvy tenants. ESI Design worked with architecture firm NBBJ on a redesign that celebrates and enlivens the building’s modernist architecture.

In the lobby, custom LED lighting, hidden in strips of brushed steel, reflects off the polished cement wall. The ambient media, also visible from outside the building, visually interprets changing weather conditions, the seasons, and the ripples on the reflecting pool outside on the plaza. New seating invites visitors to mingle and relax.

In the elevator bay, high-resolution, 22-feet-by-6-inch LEDs extending from the floor to the ceiling display information about the neighborhood, local events, weather, and the stock market.

On the exterior of the building, the top and bottom of the plaza-facing side are illuminated by soft washes, respectfully setting it within its surroundings. On the side facing the Massachusetts Turnpike, a band of light spans the height of the building, making it visible to passing traffic.

Today, 177 Huntington stands out on the plaza and in the city, its tenants have a “place” to work in, and Boston has a refreshed landmark that is positioned firmly in the present.

"Custom LED fixtures now grace the building’s concrete façade and several areas across its cavernous lobby, resulting in a series of humanly scaled spaces with a renewed sense of visual interest."

Architectural Digest