Look up at the towering rectangular skyscraper clad in gridded white concrete and stone, defined by its continuous vertical fins and the large recessed bays at its base. Take a glance at your app to see its impressive profile dominating the skyline. It is a striking example of the Modern International style, a sleek architectural movement prioritizing clean lines over ornamentation, crafted by an architect who studied under the legendary Mies van der Rohe.
But what makes First Place Tower truly fascinating is the bizarre reality of world class art being hidden in its subterranean plazas and forgotten corners. For years, a mysterious twelve foot black fiberglass sphere, rumored to be the work of acclaimed sculptor Isamu Noguchi, sat on a grassy spot right here before quietly vanishing without a trace. Similarly, a magnificent abstract fountain by the renowned modernist Harry Bertoia was relegated to a subterranean hidey hole beneath the tower simply because bank patrons complained about the water spray.
Scan the plaza around the base of the tower. Can you spot any unusual shapes, or maybe a hidden concrete corner where a massive geometric orb or a modernist fountain might have been tucked away?
It is a perfect symbol of the clash between grand artistic dreams and the practical realities of downtown commerce. We see that same friction in the building's own history. In two thousand and five, Maurice Kanbar bought this tower during a massive seventy million dollar buying spree. His grand vision was to transform the city center into a vibrant artistic utopia. But that ambition quickly devolved into bitter lawsuits, proving that soaring blueprints often collide with harsh financial truths.
Today, the tower survives as a corporate headquarters and a site of profound reverence, where firefighters annually climb its forty one flights of stairs in full gear to honor the heroes of nine eleven. It makes you wonder what other forgotten masterpieces are locked away behind bank vault doors in this city. Let us keep hunting for those secrets as we head over to the 320 South Boston Building, a minute walk away. By the way, the tower is open from nine to five every day if you need a closer look.
