ABSTRACT
The design review process surrounding Phillip Johnson's proposal for the New England Life Insurance Company's new headquarters in Boston's Back Bay marks a transition. Under the administration of Mayor Kevin White citizen input in the design review process had been achieved through the ad hoc use of citizen advisory committees. The committee appointed for the New England Life project ultimately agreed to a modified design which it felt met community concerns only to find itself caught in the middle of intense community criticism, which included a threatened law suit against the city if it attempted to proceed with project approval. When Ray Flynn subsequently assumed the office of Mayor he appointed Stephen Coyle as new BRA director. Coyle wanted to significantly revamp the design review process, but before he could do that he had to deal with $3 billion in new office construction in the "pipeline." One of Coyle's most pressing challenges was to achieve an effective resolution to the controversy surround the design of the New England Life. This case discusses the design evolution of the New England Life as it reflect the transformation of design review in Boston.
