Landmark Center (Boston) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sears Roebuck and Company Mail Order Store
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 Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | Nimmons, Carr & Wright; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001992 |
| Added to NRHP | January 15, 1991 |
The Landmark Center in Boston, Massachusetts, is a big building with a cool history. It was built in 1929 for a famous company called Sears, Roebuck and Company. The building has a special style called Art Deco, which was popular back then.
It has a tall tower, about 200 feet (61 meters) high. This building is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was also named a special Boston Landmark in 1989.
The Landmark Center is located where Park Drive and Brookline Avenue meet. It's also near two beautiful parks, the the Riverway and the Back Bay Fens. These parks are part of a larger system called the Emerald Necklace. From the top of the tower, you can see the Charles River, the city of Cambridge, and even Great Blue Hill far away.
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History of the Landmark Center
The Landmark Center was one of the last big buildings designed for Sears by an architect named George C. Nimmons. It was finished in 1928. For almost 60 years, this building was a huge warehouse. It was a place where Sears stored and sent out products. People could also find great deals there.
When the Building Was Empty
Sears closed its operations in the building in January 1988. After that, the Landmark Center became empty for a while. Many people wanted to use the building for new things. It almost got torn down several times, but luckily, it was saved.
A Similar Building in Minneapolis
The Landmark Center has a "sister" building in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This building was also originally built for Sears. It's also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2005, the Minneapolis building was turned into something new called the Midtown Exchange. It now has a market and a food court. Like the Landmark Center, it also has a large medical group using part of the building.
Bringing the Sears Building Back to Life
After buying the old Sears building, a company called The Abbey Group hired architects. Their job was to turn the building into a useful space for rent. The architects, Bruner/Cott & Associates, were careful to keep the building's original look. They also added cool new features.
One new feature is a seven-story tall open space inside. Giant skylights let natural light shine into the offices. This amazing work won several awards. These awards included the 2001 Preservation Achievement Award.
The building reopened in the fall of 2000. Today, it has many different businesses. You can find stores like REI and Staples there. There's also a 13-screen movie theater and a big parking garage.
The Landmark Center also has a sports complex and a day care center. Many offices in the building are used by medical groups. These groups are often connected to the nearby Longwood Medical and Academic Area. For example, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health have offices there. Boston Children's Hospital also has administrative offices.
In 2021, another company bought the Landmark Center. They plan to keep developing it as a place for life science companies. This means more offices for research and medical businesses.
