The Christian Science Plaza is a site on the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and

Huntington Avenue Huntington Avenue is a thoroughfare in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, beginning at Copley Square and continuing west through the Back Bay, Fenway, Longwood, and Mission Hill neighborhoods. It is signed as Massachusetts Route 9 (forme ...

in the Back Bay neighborhood of

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

. The plaza, which is owned by the

Church of Christ, Scientist The Church of Christ, Scientist was founded in 1879 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Mary Baker Eddy, author of '' Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,'' and founder of Christian Science. The church was founded "to commemorate the word and ...

(the

Christian Science Christian Science is a set of beliefs and practices which are associated with members of the Church of Christ, Scientist. Adherents are commonly known as Christian Scientists or students of Christian Science, and the church is sometimes in ...

church), was designated as a

Boston Landmark A Boston Landmark is a designation by the Boston Landmarks Commission for historic buildings and sites throughout the city of Boston based on the grounds that it has historical, social, cultural, architectural or aesthetic significance to New Engla ...

by the

Boston Landmarks Commission The Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC) is the historic preservation agency for the City of Boston. The commission was created by state legislation in 1975. History Urban renewal in the United States started with the Housing Act of 1949, part of Pres ...

in 2011, with the Commission describing it as a "heavily-used public space." The site houses the religion's administrative center and its Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist."Christian Science Center Complex"
Boston Landmarks Commission, Environment Department, City of Boston, 25 January 2011 (hereafter Boston Landmarks Commission 2011).

Buildings

The Christian Science Plaza comprises of open space, a 690 x 100 ft (210 x 30 m)

reflecting pool A reflecting pool, also called a reflection pool, is a water feature found in gardens, parks and memorial sites. It usually consists of a shallow pool of water with a reflective surface, undisturbed by fountain jets. Design Reflecting pools are o ...

, a children's fountain, and six buildings: *The First Church of Christ, Scientist, 250 Massachusetts Avenue, consisting of two buildings: the original Mother Church (1894) and the Church Extension (1906). *Christian Science Publishing House (1934), 200–210 Massachusetts Avenue, built for the Christian Science Publishing Society, and now also housing the Mary Baker Eddy Library, Mapparium, ''

The Christian Science Monitor ''The Christian Science Monitor'' (''CSM''), commonly known as ''The Monitor'', is a nonprofit news organization that publishes daily articles both in Electronic publishing, electronic format and a weekly print edition. It was founded in 1908 ...

'' and the church's administrative staff. *Three buildings, designed by Araldo Cossutta of I. M. Pei & Associates, constructed when the site was extended in the 1970s: **Reflection Hall, the former Sunday School building (1971), 235 Huntington Avenue, at one end of the reflecting pool. **The Colonnade building (1972), 101 Belvidere Street. ** 177 Huntington, formerly the Administration Building (1972). This 26-story building housed the church's administrative staff until 2008, when they moved to Christian Science Publishing House.Boston Landmarks Commission 2011
pp. 1, 5–6, 18."Christian Science Plaza Revitalization Project Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC)"
Boston Redevelopment Authority. The building is now leased out as office space.Boston Landmarks Commission 2011
p. 72.

Gallery

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, aerial shot (2), 19 July 2011.jpg, The First Church of Christ, Scientist and ''(left)'' Reflection Hall Christian Science Church and Reflection, Boston, Massachusetts.JPG, Mother Church, Colonnade building, reflecting pool USA 09568 Boston Luca Galuzzi 2007.jpg, ''(left)'' Colonnade building and ''(right)'' 177 Huntington Avenue, former administration building The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, October 1974.jpg, ''(left)'' the Mother Church, reflecting pool and ''(right)'' 177 Huntington Avenue Christian Science Publishing Society, October 2009, Boston MA.jpg, Christian Science Publishing House Mary Baker Eddy Library, Boston, 10 July 2014.jpg, Mary Baker Eddy Library, part of Christian Science Publishing House Reflection Hall-Christian Science Ctr-2015.JPG, Reflection Hall (1973). Originally named the "Sunday School Building" Reflecting pool at the Christian Science Plaza at night. July 19, 2024.jpg, Reflecting pool at the Christian Science Plaza at night. July 19, 2024

References

External links

{{Coord, 42.3445, -71.0843, type:landmark_region:US-MA, display=title 1890s architecture in the United States 1900s architecture in the United States 1930s architecture in the United States 1970s architecture in the United States Christian Science in Massachusetts Landmarks in Fenway–Kenmore Religious buildings and structures in Boston

Buildings

Gallery

See also

References

External links