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Boston landmarks of past and present include the
Boston Stone, the
Liberty Stump, and the Pregnant
Building. The Pregnant Building is a skyscraper in Boston's
Financial District, and is located at Franklin and Congress Streets. The tower has also been called the Building with a Bulge. By
design, the building has a bulge of several stories near its base.
Completed in 1971, the tower was originally called the First National Bank
Building. The architectural style has been described as Art Moderne. Very much like
Boston City Hall, the
intent of larger stories at higher levels was to allow pedestrians a greater
view of the street, but the net result is a feeling that a slab of dark
granite is hanging over one's head. The wind can also swirl around in
this area due to the size and shape of all the buildings.
At the height of skyscraper construction in Boston during the 1980's, one
may often have heard the phrase "down by the pregnant building," or "next to
the lolly pop building" when asking for directions in this area (a sculpture
resembling a lolly pop tree stood in front of another tower for many years).
Predecessor Building
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