Boston Edison Electric Illuminating Company building, Early 20th-century utility building in Boston, United States.
The Boston Edison Electric Illuminating Company building is a seven-story limestone structure on Boylston Street with classical Beaux-Arts elements and detailed ornamental facades. The design combines formal architectural features like columns and cornices with solid masonry construction typical of early 20th-century utility headquarters.
Built in 1906 to serve as headquarters for the Boston Edison Electric Illuminating Company, the structure remained its main office through the mid-20th century. The building changed purposes after that period and eventually became home to community services focused on assisting vulnerable populations.
The building reflects how power companies shaped urban design and the widespread adoption of electricity in early 20th-century cities. Its architectural style shows the confidence and prominence these utilities held in their communities.
The building sits near public transit stops and is easily accessible on foot from downtown Boston. It now houses Saint Francis House, which provides shelter and support services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
The structure marked an important moment when utility companies began designing buildings to showcase technological advancement and corporate power in architectural form. Few American office buildings from this era so directly expressed the optimism surrounding electrification and industrial progress.
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