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The building site is very important to Copley Square and the rich historic tradition found within. With buildings by H.H. Richardson and I.M. Pei nearby, I felt compelled to incorporate them within my space by creating perspective views to them from the central circulation spine, shown here as the raised roof element on axis with the intersection of the two facades. Other views to Copley square are provided to the Apple shoppers as well.

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The floor plan was established to provide a series a opaque and transparent exterior walls. This was done to provide storefront merchandising opportunities as well as managing the views to the exterior. Product would be placed upon millwork displays along the opaque surfaces. Shoppers act as living mannequins working away at the Apple products much the same as you see at any Apple mall store.

The circulation core bisects the building on axis with Trinity Church and the Hancock Building. The location allows for a variety of different spaces and experiences. Along the spine are located smaller, more intimate display areas, I have dubbed the "Tea Rooms". These are accessed via the stair platform and by the elevators located on each end of the spine.

There are six floors to the design, Each having different configurations to allow for the spatial diversity that I intended. A large trellised skylight caps the building allowing light to filter through the varying spaces down to the ground floor, continually changing patterns throughout the day.

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The Boylston Street elevation is the gateway to the store. The entrance is located between two six story white marble wall planes that frame the gateway. The elevation is layered with a series of glazed surfaces and stone surfaces. The circulation core is defined by the use of predominately clear 12 x 12 glass block. These are used to provide human scale to an otherwise massive structure. Randomly placed colored units provide reflections of color throughout the interior spaces.

This element was designed to be a three dimensional vertical element, much like the multi-story bay window towers seen throughout the Back Bay Area.

I have also elected to use other glazing systems to provide scale and diversity. Framed curtain wall is used through as the predominant fenestration system, but frameless curtain wall is used above each doorway sloping towards Copley Square to further establish the gateway as the focal element of the Boylston facade.

Adjustable louvres are used on the curtain wall glazing to allow control of the natural light. This not only adds to the diverse light and shadow affects attainable within the space but also will provide control of unwanted glare within certain areas.

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The Dartmouth facade was designed under the same principles as the Boylston facade with multiple glazing systems integrated within the prinstine white wall surfaces. Here again, glass block construction is speckled with colored units to provide ever changing reflections within the store.

At the sixth floor, access to an exterior gathering space is provided with views of the Boston Public Library and the corridor of Dartmouth Street. The trellised skylight extends to provide sun shade over a portion of the deck.

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I designed the entry element with the

overriding theme of my building in mind. The storefront doors are located on each side of the front elevator. The elevator is designed as an open platform with a high tension stainless steel floor system anchored in the center with a glass capped, steel tension ring. This elevator was inspired to promote the sense of transparency and movement through a variety of spaces.

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The wall section illustrates the movement through the open central core of the building. The "Tea Rooms" are flanked between the stair platforms. The wall surfaces of the "Tea Rooms" are constructed of reinforced concrete, perforated aluminum panels, and clear glazing. These were chosen for their varying degrees of light transmittance and reflectance. The perforated aluminum also provides a human scale reference within this large central space.

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This photo shot from my massing model illustrates several key factors of my design intention. The view towards Copley Square is seen framed at the end of the stair platform.

The spaces of the "Tea Rooms" are evident along the circulation spine while the larger open display floor is seen beyond.

The different values of light, shadow and reflectance are evident as they find their way through the spaces along with the shoppers enjoying their Apple products and hopefully enjoying the building designed to showcase them.