WS Development Celebrates the Opening of 400 Summer Street in Boston Seaport

Marking a significant milestone in the development of Boston Seaport, WS Development celebrated the opening of 400 Summer Street yesterday. The LEED Platinum certified building is the new headquarters of Foundation Medicine, the largest life sciences organization to move to Boston since 2011, and Boston’s first highway air rights project completed since 1983.
 
“We are very proud to introduce this beautiful building at the gateway to Seaport, a global epicenter for innovation and technology. As we welcome Foundation Medicine to the Seaport, this model of sustainable development stands as a testament to this neighborhood's transformation. It is a major achievement that further solidifies Seaport's position at the forefront of scientific innovation globally," said Jeremy Sclar, Chairman & CEO of WS Development.
 
“Boston thrives on bridging communities, neighborhoods, and residents as we build a vibrant innovation economy,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Congratulations to WS Development on the completion of this transformational project, to help bring our communities closer together and keeps our economy growing to support all of our city’s residents.”
 
“Massachusetts has always excelled at public-private collaboration to advance our economic development and job creation goals,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll in a statement. “400 Summer Street is a prime example of what we can achieve when industry and government work together with a shared sense of purpose and a common goal.”
 
Boston's Seaport neighborhood has transformed into a bustling hub for technology, life sciences, and retail, and the completion of 400 Summer Street represents a pivotal moment for the neighborhood’s progress. 400 Summer Street is a 16-story laboratory building designed by the renowned practice of Morris Adjmi Architects of New York City in collaboration with the Boston office of Stantec, LeMessurier Consultants, Buro Happold, Haley & Aldrich, and Nitsch Engineering. The building totals 630,000 square feet and includes 600,000 square feet of laboratory and office space. It will also host 30,000 square feet of neighborhood retail uses along Congress and Summer Streets. The building was constructed by Suffolk Construction.

L-R: Yanni Tsipis (SVP of Development, WS Development), Amy Prange (VP of Development, Seaport),
Leslie Doyle (VP of Construction, Seaport), Kim Driscoll (Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts), Jocelyn Goglia (Senior Director of Commercial Interiors, Seaport), Stephen Chan (Senior Advisor for Partnerships, Office of Mayor Michelle Wu), Ali Ribeiro (Senior Director of Development, Seaport),
Liz Powers (CEO & Co-Founder of ArtLifting)
 
WS Development’s commitment to sustainable design and construction has earned the building LEED Platinum certification, the highest possible level of LEED recognition, from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). 400 Summer Street is the third LEED Platinum certified building in WS’ Boston Seaport project.
 
The 400 Summer Street Project also included the construction of the Summer Street Steps adjacent to the building, which provide a generous and welcoming pedestrian and bicycle connection from Summer Street to Congress Street, leading to Harbor Way at the heart of the Seaport neighborhood and Boston Harbor beyond. It is a critical step in connecting the South Boston neighborhood and the South Station transportation hub to the Seaport, bridging a divide dating back to 1889 when the original Summer Street Bridge was constructed. It is also a key access point to the Seaport neighborhood for guests of The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, and a public gathering place for community programming and activations.

Credit: Boston Seaport by WS, Photographer Eric Levin

View 400 Summer Street >>