Trans National Place, also referred to as 115 Winthrop Square, was a visionary proposal for a

supertall According to the CTBUH, a supertall building is defined as a building between in height. The city with the most supertall buildings is Dubai at 33 entries, followed by Shenzhen and New York City with 21 and 19 supertall buildings respectively. ...

skyscraper A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable building having multiple floors. Most modern sources define skyscrapers as being at least or in height, though there is no universally accepted definition, other than being very tall high-rise bui ...

located in the heart of

Boston 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 ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

, United States. Originally conceptualized by renowned architect

Renzo Piano Renzo Piano (; born 14 September 1937) is an Italian architect. His notable works include the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris (with Richard Rogers, 1977), The Shard in London (2012), Kansai International Airport in Osaka (1994), the Whitney ...

, in collaboration with the Boston-based firm Childs Bertman Tseckares Inc., the project aimed to redefine Boston's skyline. However, the ambitious designs were ultimately shelved following Piano's departure from the project in March 2007. The skyscraper was envisioned to be the tallest building in Boston, projected to exceed the height of the iconic John Hancock Tower by 15 stories and destined to reach at least . Despite the initial excitement surrounding its potential, Trans National Place faced numerous challenges leading to its eventual cancellation in 2008. The primary factors contributing to this decision included a downturn in the commercial real estate market and considerable objections from the

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...

, which raised concerns over the building's proposed height being a hazard for air traffic near

Logan International Airport General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport — also known as Boston Logan International Airport — is an international airport located mostly in East Boston and partially in Winthrop, Massachusetts, United States. Covering , it has ...

. Ultimately, the project was superseded by the Winthrop Center, which later adopted a new design selected in 2016. The proposed Trans National Place was more than just a building; it represented a bold vision of urban development that encapsulated the aspirations of Boston's architectural future. The combination of innovative design and modern amenities promised to enhance the city's landscape and generate substantial economic activity. Yet, as regulatory hurdles and market fluctuations intervened, the promise of this iconic skyscraper remained unfulfilled, leaving an indelible mark on Boston’s architectural narrative.

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External links

Entry on Skyscraperpage.com
* {{Supertall proposed skyscrapers Unbuilt buildings and structures in the United States Federal Aviation Administration Proposed skyscrapers in the United States 2000s architecture in the United States

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