In Wednesday’s (8/8) Boston Globe, Casey Ross reports, “New England Conservatory, a prestigious center of music performance and education in Boston, wants to make a bold statement with its first major expansion in five decades: a pair of modern glass buildings that would shake up a dated section of the Fenway. Newly released designs show a striking transformation of the mostly brick campus, adding transparent facades that would put daily music performances on full public display. The centerpiece is an $85 million building on St. Botolph Street that would include student residences, a 200-seat black box theater, a new ¬library and dining hall, and jazz and orchestral chambers that would be visible from the sidewalk. A classroom building would be built in a second phase of work. … The conservatory does not expect to begin construction on the student building for several years because it is still raising funds for the project. But school administrators revealed preliminary designs this week to introduce the projects beyond the Fenway and to help build enthusiasm for the expansion. … The expansion has won support from neighbors and city officials. … “We’re seeing an exciting boom in that part of the city,” [Boston Redevelopment Authority] director Peter Meade said.”
Posted August 9, 2012
