News Stories

 

Boston, MA (January 8, 2007) - The Boston Architectural College (BAC) is pleased to announce its acquisition of 955 Boylston Street, the former home of the Institute of Contemporary Art. A 25,423-square-foot building adjacent to the college’s main campus at 320 Newbury Street, 955 Boylston Street is a renovated 19th Century civic building that deftly complements the BAC’s well known 20th Century Brutalist concrete home on fashionable Newbury Street.

The purchase price for 955 Boylston Street was $7.22 million. Proceeds from a $12,430,000 tax-exempt-bond issued by MassDevelopment will support the BAC’s purchase of its new facility. Beginning in the spring of 2007, the college will embark on an extensive and inclusive planning process to determine the building’s best academic and research functions. This will include obtaining recommendations from the various participants in the BAC’s extended communities, including students, faculty, employers of BAC students, alumni, design professionals and those impacted by BAC programs. The BAC will continue to work closely with the office of Mayor Thomas Menino to develop plans that benefit the college’s neighboring communities.

“This is a significant permanent addition to our campus, which now includes two iconic buidings,” states Boston Architectural College President Ted Landsmark. “The 19th and 20th Century Boston architects who designed these buildings employed BAC students, 100 years apart. Our planning process will be for the first new design school facility in Boston in several decades. As we envision how environmental and human design will be addressed in the 21st Century, 955 Boylston Street will enable us to better serve our students in architecture, interior design, landscape and design studies, and the public. We’ll now engage a wider community in helping plan how our expanding campus and programs can be resources for improving design here, and around the world.”

Designed in 1886 by City Architect Arthur H. Vinal and built in Richardson Romanesque Revival style, 955 Boylston Street was the first combined fire and police station in Boston. The fire station, located at 941 Boylston Street, is still functioning today. In 1976, architect Graham Gund converted the police station into art galleries. This site then became home to the Institute of Contemporary Art, which relocated in December 2006 to Boston’s waterfront.

“MassDevelopment is pleased to support the Boston Architectural College as it creates new educational opportunities through its campus expansion project,” said Robert L. Culver, MassDevelopment president/CEO. “This updated facility will not only make the school more appealing to prospective students, it will also add new resources and character to one of Boston’s treasured neighborhoods. I’m glad the BAC chose to preserve this historic architectural icon.”

A financial guaranty policy was issued by ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation ("ACA"); Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (“S&P”) has issued financial strength and financial enhancement ratings of “A” for ACA, and ACA is licensed to do business in and subject to regulation under the laws of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States and the Territory of Guam.

The Boston Architectural College Directors who participated in the acquisition of this property include: Chairman Charles Redmon FAIA; Lisa Bonneville, FASID, Vice Chair; Christopher L. Noble, Esq., Secretary; Lawrence R. Ladd, Treasurer; Robert A. Brown AIA IIDA; Holly Cratsley AIA; Zachary Craun; Elizabeth Ericson FAIA; Russel Feldman AIA; Maurice N. Finegold FAIA; Bernard J. Goba AIA; Jane Garland Lucas ASID IIDA; John D. Macomber; Julia Nugent AIA; David Perini, Commissioner; Jill Rothenberg; Jane Weinzapfel FAIA; and Lynn Wolff FASLA. BAC Executive Vice-President/Chief Operating Officer, James Dunn, and BAC Provost Edmund Toomey also participated.

The Boston Architectural College is New England’s largest independent, accredited college of spatial design, founded in 1889. With over 1000 students, the BAC offers undergraduate and graduate programs in architecture and interior design, undergraduate programs in landscape architecture, and design studies, and Continuing Education and certificate programs. The BAC stresses excellence in practice-based professional education, and accessibility to the design professions. The BAC’s central location and its strong links with the design community make it a strategic educational center for the discussion of design issues in Boston.

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development authority, works with businesses, financial institutions and local officials to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. Since fiscal year 2004, MassDevelopment has financed or managed 586 projects statewide representing an investment of more than $4 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects have also created 5,537 housing units and more than 23,500 jobs.