For those of you who wonder what goes on behind the walls of the Boston Society of Architects’ headquarters at 290 Congress Street, now is your chance. The BSA has opened its doors to the public, welcoming them to experience the nonprofit organization at work in their new 14,000-square-foot facility at Atlantic Wharf.
As a project designed to welcome students and adults alike to learn more about the industry of design and its significance in the world today, the BSA collaborated with Boston architecture firm Howeler + Yoon to create this $2.5 million facility to showcase the inner workings of their establishment, to the general public, from behind glass walls.
As well as watching the staff at work, visitors can also meander through the galleries exploring the different exhibits on various aspects of design, from architecture to furniture to bicycles, while enjoying the view out towards the Financial District and the Seaport. Open seven days a week, the BSA will be offering an information center advertising both walking and boat tours, by Boston By Foot and the Charles River Boat Co., respectively. Visitors can also take advantage of the 150-seat multimedia space every Friday with weekly movie nights.
According to Laura Wernick, newly appointed BSA board president and Cambridge architect, in her interview with the Boston Herald, the hope is for this opportunity at the Boston Society of Architects’ larger, more prominent space to become a new way for people to experience the concept of design.
Photo by Andy Ryan for Howeler + Yoon.
About Euginie Kwan
Euginie Kwan is an architectural professional based in Boston. She received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University in May 2011, with a minor concentration in Architectural History.