401 Park

Opened in 1928, the Sears Roebuck & Co. distribution centre operated as a retail powerhouse for 60 years. After Sears abandoned the 1m sq ft building in 1988, the official Boston Landmark re-opened in 2000 with a movie theatre, offices, and retail. But by the late 2010s, its big-box stores and dining mix were out of step with a neighbourhood undergoing a transformation.

Developers enlisted Elkus Manfredi Architects to reinvent the building for today’s high-energy work/play world while honouring the rich history of the neighbourhood cornerstone. Stripping interiors to their structural bones, designers revealed the building’s true industrial character. Notable features include a magnificent two-storey atrium with soaring concrete columns and the 25,000 sf Time Out Market food hall with massive windows that open to outdoor seating and a public park. Now called 401 Park, the reinvented building pays homage to its legacy while providing a dynamic destination for visitors, workers, and residents.