Backlit Agate Feature Walls
Boston, MA: Bulfinch Crossing, a redevelopment project creating an iconic addition to Downtown Boston consists of two skyscrapers, a smaller residential tower, a low-rise office building, a hotel, and a low-rise retail building. At a height of 480 feet, the Sudbury residential tower at Bulfinch Crossing houses the apartments and condominiums. As you enter the reception area, your eyes are drawn to breathtaking featured backlit agate wall, illuminated with GPI’s Infuse™ LED Backlighting System. Architect CBT along with Faulkner Design Group and AECOM Tishman worked with GPI Design to create this piece behind the reception desk. This unique custom fabricated DURA-Lite™ Glass-Backed Agate Stone adds texture and sophistication to the lobby for residents to enjoy as they enter and exit the building. A turnkey package developed by GPI Design provides a strong visual marker to the entry space. The agate stone expresses natural and raw qualities. Strategically placed, these pieces of stone complement each other and bring a different level of beauty to the natural stone colors and veining.
Background: The Sunbury at Bulfinch Crossing located downtown Boston is a luxury residential tower with apartments for lease and condominiums for sale. Included with so many luxury amenities such as a fitness facility and pool, golf simulator, pet spa, yoga room, and custom reception area to name a few. This space is envisioned to be one of the best residential properties in Boston. The tower offers stunning views inside and out making it an ideal location for living in Boston.
The Process: The GPI Design team, in collaboration with Architect: CBT, Interior Designer: The Faulkner Design Group, and Contractor: AECOM Tishman, spent countless hours perfecting this statement backlit feature. With the uniquely transformative nature of the agate stone, proper fixture selection and precise color temperature quickly became critical areas of focus. To arrive at the ideal combination, GPI tested multiple LED fixtures in varying color temperatures, all which yielded dramatically different results. GPI even tested various filters and scrims to further tune and tweak the final temperature of the lighting and final coloration of the stone. After narrowing down the options and verifying with our system design, GPI then presented our recommendations to the team, giving them the ability to see the differences and confidently approve the scenario that best fit their vision. With custom turkey development and acutely tailored illumination by GPI, this striking feature makes a remarkable artistic statement both day and night.