Meeting Post-COVID Expectations for Office Buildings at One Post Office Square

With the incredible demand on urban settings, the redevelopment of existing office buildings presents a prime opportunity to re-invest in aging real estate assets and simultaneously revitalize and energize our urban centers. It’s also an inherently sustainable choice that reduces the significant carbon footprint of our built environment at a time when the climate crisis is nearing a tipping point. Modernized systems and infrastructure can significantly improve building performance and resiliency, and giving new life to aging structures can enhance the surrounding neighborhood, benefiting both building owners, tenants and the community.

Of course, there are also challenges associated with the opportunity, among them building occupancy and the potential for tenant disruption. But a holistic approach — designed for value, experience and performance — can successfully metamorphize an outdated office tower into a sustainable building of the future on par with new construction. Such a transformation is currently underway and on full display in the heart of our city’s financial district.

One Post Office Square (OPOS), a 41-story office tower constructed in 1980, was designed at a time when corner offices were the gold standard of the corporate workplace, as evidenced in the building’s distinctive column-free corners and irregular floor plate.

When presented with the opportunity to reimagine the property, Gensler, JLL and Anchor Line Partners worked closely with the building owner to design a solution that addresses this central premise: how to effectively transform and enhance the value of an aging office building into a premier product.

Older buildings require regular upgrades and the addition of amenities to remain competitive. However, whether a systems upgrade or a lobby refresh, incremental updates only go so far to extend and elevate a building’s relevancy. At OPOS, we embarked on a much more ambitious transformation that would bring new life and identity to the building, along with a revitalized experience both inside and out, positioning it as one of the city’s leading office towers.

In order to realize the maximum amount of leasable area and enhance the economic performance, several interventions were introduced, together creating the addition of 250,000 SF. A significant contributor was the replacement of an outdated garage structure with an 18-story addition that includes an innovative automated parking system. The first of its kind in Boston to be used in a commercial setting, the highly efficient system is capable of meeting current needs in less than half the volume and is designed for future flexibility should parking demand decline.

The addition also provided the opportunity to create larger floorplates at the lower portion of the building. An added benefit is the rooftop terrace and expanded outdoor amenity space available on the 19th floor. Additionally, infill at the corners of the existing structure further maximizes usable space, creates a more regularized floorplate, and provides a unique opportunity to create two-story interconnecting space.

Careful consideration has been given to how the building’s design will elevate the tenant experience as well as activate the streetscape and engage the city. A double-height retail space is poised to catalyze pedestrian activity, enhancing engagement with the public realm and positioning the property to serve as a notable contributing element to the health and vitality of its urban setting.

The new curtain wall provides 200% more views than previously allowed by the building’s original smaller-sized windows and heavy perimeter frame. In addition, the creation of multiple outdoor venues – including the rooftop terrace on the addition – increases access to fresh air and outdoor amenities with exceptional view of Post Office Square, the harbor and the city.

In keeping with the owner’s sustainability goals, OPOS is pursuing LEED V4 Gold certification. The sheer act of reusing the superstructure will save a staggering 14.5K metric tons of embodied CO2, as compared to new build. Throughout the building, modernized systems – like the introduction of an active chilled beam system – and efficiency upgrades, along with increased daylight harvesting and façade performance, are projected to improve energy performance by more than 20% and reduce operational costs. Altogether, once completed, OPOS is positioned to be amongst the most sustainable properties of its type in Boston.

COVID-19 has impacted the commercial real estate market in many ways. Developers and building owners are reevaluating their portfolios. Office workers who temporarily vacated as a safety measure will have heightened expectations for the “post-COVID” office upon their return. Health and wellness, including better ventilation, access to daylight and fresh air, and on-site amenities will be priorities. As a result, there will be an additional pressure to introduce new standards for healthy environments in existing buildings. We believe the transformed OPOS, effectively already designed with these attributes, is well positioned to deliver on the post-COVID expectations for office buildings.

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