Case study
Boston Seaport
Where culture, industry and community converge into Boston’s most vibrant district.
A waterfront planning project at city scale
Working directly for WS Development, Michael Abbott & Associates now part of Presenting Architecture produced CGIs, photorealistic renderings, and an eight-minute animation for one of the largest single real estate developments in Boston’s history — spanning roughly 23 acres, 20 city blocks and 6.3 million square feet of mixed-use development.
As a thriving, sustainable urban neighborhood, the Seaport was designed in collaboration with some of the biggest names in the industry: James Corner Field Operations, KPF, NADAAA, OMA and Sasaki.
The renderings and animation needed to speak to several audiences at once: the Boston Planning & Development Agency reviewing for public benefit and design compliance, prospective tenants evaluating the development for lease decisions, and the public seeing the Seaport’s transformation for the first time.
The imagery had to work at two scales — a single building elevation and a 20-block master plan — using ground-level pedestrian views and aerial context shots in the same visual language. The eight-minute animation let WS Development walk stakeholders through phasing, circulation, and public realm improvements that static images alone couldn’t convey.
Have a project at this scale?
Call 925-254-4234 or email robert@robertbecker.com to discuss large-scale visualization and animation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was your role on the Boston Seaport project?
Working directly for WS Development, our team (Michael Abbott & Associates, now part of Presenting Architecture) produced CGIs, photorealistic renderings, and an eight-minute animation for the development.
How large is the Boston Seaport development?
Roughly 23 acres, 20 city blocks, and 6.3 million square feet of mixed-use development — one of the largest single real estate developments in Boston’s history.
Who else worked on the Seaport’s design?
The Seaport was designed in collaboration with James Corner Field Operations, KPF, NADAAA, OMA, and Sasaki.
Do you take on large-scale, multi-building visualization projects like this?
Yes. Work like this spans single building elevations up to full master-plan scale, combining photorealistic renderings with animation to walk stakeholders through phasing and design.
What file formats do you deliver?
High-resolution JPG, PNG, or TIFF files suitable for print, presentation boards, construction signs and all digital uses, plus video files for animation work.