Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTON GRASSL/ESTO STREET HEAT THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER'S NEW WING BRINGS THE SPRING SUN INDOORS. BY MACKENZIE CUMMINGS-GRADY You may not want to use the word "mall" if you ever meet Pat Mulvihill, vice president of leasing at Boston Properties and one of the main forces behind the Prudential Center's new development at 888 Boylston Steet. "We definitely think of the Prudential Center as a street rather than a shopping center," he says. "We are giving it an urban, contemporary look, so that you feel like you're walking down a city street. Because you are." That "street" might recall Rome, Phnom Penh, or New York as much as it does Boston, thanks to an influx of international markets and restaurants (Eataly, Num Pang) and powerhouse stores (Under Armour, Tesla). But what really sets the new $275 million, 17-story building apart is not the breadth of its dining, shopping, and entertainment amenities (or its 4,000 parking spaces) but the fact that it is 45-per- cent energy efficient, making it one of the most sustainable buildings in Boston. Bryan Koop, executive vice president of Boston Properties, says the sustainability factor was impera- tive. "Don't you think you would have less sick days if you had more fresh air in your office?" he asks. "We're like plants. We love light and fresh air." It's a philosophy reflected in the design, with floor-to-ceiling windows, rooftop wind turbines, solar energy panels, and a tree-lined outdoor entryway all contributing to energy efficiency and the feeling of wellness. "Walking through here," Mulvihill says, "is how people get through the street. And, in a sense, it's how they get through life." 888 Boylston St., 617-236-3300; bostonproperties.com . Outside in: 888 Boylston Street, the Prudential Center's new LEED-certified extension, boasts solar panels, wind turbines, and 45-percent energy efficient, making it one of the most sustainable buildings in Boston. SPACE REAL ESTATE 82 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM