The BRA Board has unanimously approved the proposed Millennium Tower and Burnham Building in Downtown Crossing, bringing the 1.2 million square foot, $615 million project closer to reality.

The project will preserve and renovate the Burnham Building and develop a mixed-use residential building. But the keystone to this redevelopment is the restoration of the historic Burnham Building, former home of Filene’s. 

Originally built in the early 20th century in the Beaux Arts architectural style, the building was the only Massachusetts work and the last prominent building designed by architect Daniel Burnham, the designer of Chicago’s Marshall and Field Department Store and New York City’s Flat Iron Building. 

The restoration will include opening up the building at the street level for office space and retail, repairing the façade, updating all systems, taking full advantage of the large windows, wide column spacing, and high ceilings to provide commercial space for retailers and Boston’s workforce.

The Tower, shaped as a tapered “wedge”, will present a slender profile to the west, emphasize the distinct and historic character of the restored Burnham Building, increase daylight opportunities for the Washington Streetside, and maximize daylight to offices in the BurnhamBuilding and lower floors of the Tower. 

Retail entryways and display windows will line the entire block of Washington Street and face Shopper’s Park on Franklin Street. Workers will enter on Summer Street, and residents will enter on Franklin Street.

The project will stand 625 feet high and have 600 one, two, three, and four-bedroom units. It will have 122,000-231,000 square feet of retail and 125,000-218,000 square feet of office.

The project counts $2.8 million in Streetscape improvements 600 construction jobs and 2,300 permanent jobs.

The development team includes:
• Millennium Partners
• Handel Architects
• Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
• DLA Piper
• Epsilon Associates
• Nitsch Engineering
• WSP Flack + Kurtz
• Haley & Aldrich
• RWDI
• MacRostie Historic Advisors
• Suffolk Construction