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255 State Street is a 12-story, 220,000 square foot office building situated on Boston’s historic harbor at the head of State Street in Boston’s Financial District. The building is adjacent to the New England Aquarium and directly across from the Rose Kennedy Greenway.


255 State Street was a dark, uninviting building that had housed telephone company operations for many years and stood unoccupied. We saw great possibilities for this site, recognizing that once the Central Artery/Tunnel Project was completed and the greenway public space was developed, 255 State Street would occupy one of the most desirable office locations in the city. We took this underutilized asset and transformed it inside and out into a striking and sophisticated extension of the Financial District.


The total restoration of a building in a congested downtown area is always a challenge, but when that building is adjacent to the nation’s largest ongoing public works project (the “Big Dig”), the challenge can often seem insurmountable. All of our redevelopment activities required thoughtful coordination with city and state transportation departments and with our neighbors. Working with the Artery Business Committee we also developed creative transportation options in conjunction with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.


Our design team’s task was to determine the right combination of features and finishes to ensure the building’s marketability. When the building reopened in late 1998, a dignified new exterior façade replaced the outdated skin. By installing pre-cast concrete panels to complement the existing limestone detailing, Pembroke maintained the architectural character of State Street’s historical facades. We created inviting common spaces and a through lobby connecting both sides of the building, filling the space with natural light. Finally, we installed a full complement of automated mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.

To knit the building into the street and take full advantage of its high-traffic location, we built exciting retail space into the first floor. 255 State Street is home to two of Boston’s premier restaurants, Legal Sea Foods and Sel De La Terre. In the summer months, these restaurants transform the historic brick sidewalks into lively outdoor cafés, where patrons enjoy the scenic waterfront.