During our last stay in Boston, we had a room that had a direct view of the John Hancock tower. It was such a beautiful sight...especially at night...most of the offices were lit up and it made the whole building look almost magical. This towering skyscraper stands tall at 790 feet, making it the tallest building in New England. Construction on the John Hancock Tower began in 1968 and was completed in 1976. The tower is made up of reflective glass panels that give it a sleek and modern appearance The John Hancock Tower is located in the heart of Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, at 200 Clarendon Street. If you are lucky to go up to some of the high floors, you could enjoy great views of the city. read more

John Hancock Tower - view of the John Hancock tower from the Prudential Center area. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I *SO* wish I was writing this review under different circumstances. There is now a deep pain associated with this building... but this isn't the building's fault - thus no stars deducted. You see, I used to work at one of the companies within. I don't want to name it, so let's say I was somewhere between 50%-75% of the way up. To say it was a dream job is an understatement; I couldn't have dreamt it up if I tried. Well, my employment ended in less than six months. Not 100% my fault, not 100% theirs... even if you were to find the numbers, they probably wouldn't add up to 100 either - sometimes in life there is a sprinkle of rotten luck. I had a lot of pride not only in the company I worked for and in the work I did, but also for where (physically) I worked. Friends and colleagues would often ask me, and I would tell them I work right in the John Hancock Tower. Outwardly, I would [try to] be completely nonchalant about it, but inside I felt just a little hurt when the other person wasn't as wowed as I was walking into work every day. From inside, well, the view is incredible, of course. The one caveat is the nighttime view isn't what you would expect (nor what I accurately conveyed in the photos). I think it is partly due to the blue mirror coating on the glass - it reflects some of the now rather scarce blue light. As an architectural symbol, it is probably as uniquely Boston as Fenway. Something that is immediately recognizable. Yes, there are valid criticisms about its location right next to Trinity Church, and how it fits into the overall landscape. It is said, correctly, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I for one, despite what anyone else says, think the building is wicked awesome. I also love how one can see it from very far away (I've seen it from Lynn and Weymouth!) There is also some fascinating history surrounding the building, including cases where the glass would fall out, and many windows were replaced with wooden panels. Or, how it was determined that under certain wind conditions, the building could fall - and reinforcements were added to the structure, as well as a stabilizer on one of the top floors. With all this, and especially the privilege of having worked inside it, there is not conceivable way I would award anything less than five stars. read more

This is where they filmed the movie Hancock, and shouldn't be confused with "Handcock" which is another word for male masturbation, or a HJ. Whenever someone says John Hancock I always think of Chicago because of course that's where the John Hancock is, or at least the one which I always think of when they say John Hancock. Apparently other people also think of Chicago and John Hancock, because a ton of the pictures including all the top pictures of the John Hancock Tower are actually of the one in Chicago. I'm not sure what people were thinking about cuz this one is clearly listed as being in Boston. The Boston version looks totally different. Of course it's way shorter and it's sort of holographic, shiny, and looks like it's pretty wide and not that tall. It's an amazing building, and you can see the Prudential Tower very close by, and the two of them are kind of like twins from another mother or something. And then the weird angular triangular building that kind of looks a bit like the Flatiron is right down below. And then the majority of Boston's downtown buildings are in the background hidden by the Prudential, and I love all the views from here, so in that regard it's really a great building. It's the tallest building in New England despite the fact that it's not that tall. People don't seem to realize it's Boston's skyline-topper, as I suppose Prudential is more famous and iconic. read more

I have a love hate relationship with the John Hancock Building. It's made entirely of reflective glass, So it is a beautiful work of art... But it blocks the Timeless Trinity Church. Go inside and lunch at their cute Cafe. Ride up to the top of the tower for some of the best views in the city. The deal: watch out for the wind tunnel this building creates with one back bay, The other high rise across the street. read more

Probably one of the best views I've seen on one of the most beautiful days of the year. Super professional security, elevators feel a bit shaky. Spent a lot of time on one of the top floors getting a personal tour and found it very, very, very impressive. read more

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Cool, sleek, almost-Kryptonian crystal (except darker). It's so tall you can glimpse it from lots of Boston locales, but my favorite vantage point is Copley Square. There you can see the 19th-century Trinity Church's granite and sandstone, reflected in the Hancock's smooth blue glass -- a happy meeting of old and new. Ranked 142d on the AIA's Favorite Architecture survey: http://favoritearchitecture.org/afa150.php read more

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So I work here in the upper-40s floor area. It's super windy in the winter. Snow/rain will pelt you in the face. You need full body protection - your umbrella is useless. The temperature is pretty erratic inside our office. Somedays it's cool, somedays it's warm - but that's what you get with a giant blue-glassed air aquarium. It gets five stars because the view is fantastic and the omelette guy in the cafe is a superstar. read more

John Hancock Tower - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I work here, up in the 40s. The view is, of course, amazing. The location is great as well, except that we're surrounded by a wind tunnel. If the weather is even slightly bad, it's much worse right around this area with the strong winds. The elevator system is a little confusing. If you want to go to the even floors, you have to go up one level from the lobby (to the mezzanine) and take those elevators. The elevators from the main lobby only go to odd floors. When you're going down, you can go to any elevator. If you don't want to go upstairs for an even floor, the "trick" is to take the elevator up to an odd floor, let the doors open, and then hit the even floor that below it that you want to go to. I'm not sure if this is a building thing, or just specific to my office, but the climate control could use some work. Most of us have space heaters, which I often use during the summer as well. The only downside to being so high up is that when things like the Back Bay blackout happen, it's a looooong way down. I know from experience. read more

John Hancock Tower - View from the upper 40s - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The modern symbol of Boston, the tallest building in New England and one of two IM Pei masterpieces in Boston - I can't give the John Hancock Tower anything less than five stars, I love it. IM Pei was trying to create a 1970s minimalist modernist monolith and I don't think anyone can say he failed. The mirrored surface and parallelogram plan were all designed to minimise the building's visual impact on the skyline, and especially at Copley Square. It's true how much more the Pru seems invades your sky compared to the JHT - nice one Pei. What I love most about the JHT is that it never ever looks the same as the mirrored surfaces reflect the sky and angular design gives it a different shape from all around Boston. The beam of light it catches down it's side at sunset makes it look extraterrestrial from MIT, whereas simultaneously it'll be looking like Kubrick's 2001 monolith for the folks in Southie. read more

I used to have a picture of this building against a bright blue sky background. It really let you appreciate the aesthetic nature of the structure. read more

My company is located in this building and we are near the top. I love that every morning when I come in that I have the best view (except on cloudy days) of the sunrise over the bay, and just about any sunset seen from the tower is breathtaking as well. My advice is to make friends with somebody who works in the tower (like me) and they can get you past security to go up and check out the place. read more

Yeah, so I'm a little obsessed with the Hancock Tower, or as I like to call it, The Cock. But it's a great building with great space, great views, and even a not-bad catering place/cafeteria in the basement. It's too bad the top floor is no longer open for viewing. My space halfway up is so amazing that I can't even imagine what it's like up there. Despite the psycho wind tunnel from Hades, this might be the best building in which to work in Boston. read more

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The last two years I've snagged nose-pressed-to-the-window seats for the 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on the forty-something floor here. Helps that my SO works on said floor. The views are gorgeous and I'm often surprised by sites I don't recognize from this bird's eye view. I love looking at all of the boats on the Charles - reminds me of a bathtub with children's toys bobbing around. It is also cool to be up here on a foggy day and watch as the fog clears out and your view is restored. Don't forget your binoculars in the chance of spying on a rooftop party or zooming in on a tussle between pedestrians down below! read more

This building is pretty damn impressive. A sight to see in the Baaahston Back Bay area. If you make it up to one for the top floors, you'll get a great view of the Boston Financial District , Cambridge area, Charles River and more. It's gorgeous on a clear, sunny day. Floor to ceiling windows is hard to beat when you're overlooking a city as beautiful as Boston. If you're hungry, check out the cafe downstairs. It's great for a quick breakfast, lunch or snack. They also have several gluten and dairy free options, for peeps with dietary restrictions. read more

I am kind of surprised that you can review a BUILDING on yelp? So I am going to talk about the food offered here. The only food item the downstairs cafeteria has mastered is potatoes. Flavorless sandwiches, bad pizza and odd tasting pasta and stir fry dishes are pretty common. The salad bar is full of weird beans and other gross items. They don't carry Italian dressing either. What salad bar doesn't have Italian or at least a plain vinaigrette?! I have been told that they used to have a great salad bar, but it has really gone downhill. One day I ordered lemon chicken, and they literally hacked a chicken in half with one swipe, right in front of me, placed it in a styrofoam container with broccoli and sent me on my way. They also find it necessary to put parsley on everything, which puzzles me. The employees are really friendly, but If it wasn't cheap and convenient I would never eat there since the food is usually horrible. Sometimes they have blood drives just outside the cafeteria, which I find a little disturbing. Needles and blood draws give me the creeps in a major way. Nothing like seeing someone laid out on a bed with a needle strapped to their arm while you're picking up a panini! read more

So tall and shiny, from Storrow Drive, you can watch the sun set in it. read more

Standing shinny and tall. It's always clean and I love the flowers they have in the lobby at the check-in desk. Cons-I don't like how they only leave one door open at night. I guess it's good for the building and for the person at the front desk. Hopefully I don't have to stay too many late nights at work so I can use the side doors too :) read more

I am extremely fortunate to work in this building. Our company is located pretty close to the top and I always joke that the best thing about my job is the view. Actually, I'm not really joking when I say that. The views from up here are incredible and literally will stop you in your tracks while you move about during the work day. The security guys in the building are super friendly and the food they serve at the Blue Glass is good, albeit expensive. It's one of my top 3 favorite buildings in Boston and I'm so lucky to get to spend my work week here. read more

I work here and especially when it's decorated for Christmas I feel like I'm working in the same building as the dad from Adventures in Babysitting. The view is INCREDIBLE. And so many of the floors are laid out with the main focus on the view. From my floor you can see the public garden, common, airport, all bridges into the city and the White mountains, on a clear day. Love how efficient the security is. No hobos in the bathroom like my old job. I love that you don't even have to leave the building on a crummy day because there is a cafeteria/ coffee bar downstairs. This building is awesome. read more

why four because you can't go up to see the better view but that ok the design is cool it can trick your eyes do to it's odd shape and it's like a very big mirror and it the simble of Boston the mix of old colonial and 21th century them the old and new hand on hand read more

John Hancock Tower - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My husband works on one of the mid-floors of the building, and it's actually very cool to be inside. His office has a view of the ocean, which he sometimes enjoys if he isn't staring at a computer monitor for hours straight. The offices on the long sides of the building apparently get too much direct sun in the morning or afternoon, thereby often ruining a great view with greenhouse-like warming effects that require the shades to be drawn. But the best part of the building is how views of it pop up unexpectedly when I am driving. The kid, when he's with me, never faIls to exclaim, "there's daddy's building!" as though his daddy were the only person in it. Sometimes I drive along memorial drive and see window washers on the sides. It freaks me out a bit sometimes, and they often give my husband the willies as they descend over his windows. Another kind of creepy thing is that when there is a rainstorm and clouds fill the sky, the view even in the middle of the day is one of truly night-time darkness. read more