Federal Reserve Bank Building (Boston)
| Company type | Government building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking, Finance |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
Key people | Frank E. Morris (former President and CEO) |
| Products | Office space for Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and other tenants |
The Federal Reserve Bank Building stands as the seventh tallest structure in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at Dewey Square, it serves as a link between the Fort Point and Financial District areas. Its proximity to Boston Harbor, the Fort Point Channel, and the key intermodal transportation hub South Station underscores its strategic position. A notable feature of the building is its unique ground-level opening designed to allow the passage of sea breezes.
History
Finished in 1977, this 614-foot (187 m), 32-story edifice was constructed to house the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, replacing its original 1922 headquarters, which now operates as the Langham Hotel Boston. The design was crafted by Hugh Stubbins of The Stubbins Associates, Inc., who considered it one of his preferred works. In contrast to other Federal Reserve Banks that resemble fortified structures, this building’s modernist style highlights transparency and accessibility. It is commonly referred to as the "washboard" or "Venetian Blind" building due to its distinctive exterior appearance.
Design and features
Consisting of an office tower alongside a four-level wing, construction spanned from December 1972 to November 1974. The office tower showcases a glass curtain wall paired with an anodized aluminum finish, supported structurally by a 140-foot bridge and a steel truss weighing approximately 600 tons.
Within the building lies the Frank E. Morris auditorium, named after the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s President and CEO from 1968 to 1988. This space was designed to meet the Bank’s operational needs and also accommodates community gatherings such as lunchtime concerts.
Elevated gardens are integrated above street level, adding greenery to the urban setting.
List of tenants
- Aspen Specialty Insurance Co.
- The Cavan Group
- ConnectEDU
- Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
- Consul General of Italy - 17th Floor
- Craig & Macauley P.C.
- Harvard Management Company
- Kforce
- Krokidas & Bluestein LLP
- Middleton & Company, Inc.
- Peabody & Arnold LLP
- Wolf, Greenfield P.C.
- 600 Atlantic Federal Credit Union
- Partners Capital
Awards
- 2010 — Awarded "LEED-EB Gold designation" by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for outstanding operational performance and reduced environmental footprint.
- 2009 — Recognized as "Office Building of the Year" (TOBY) by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Boston.
- 2008 and 2010 — Honored with the "ENERGY STAR Award" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- 1979 — Received the "AIA Award for Excellence in Architecture" from the American Institute of Architects New England Regional Council.
In popular culture
The building is visible in a rooftop scene from Martin Scorsese’s 2006 film The Departed, featuring characters Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) and undercover officer Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio).
It also appears in the second episode of Star Trek: Picard (2020), where Picard and Laris teleport into Dahj's apartment.