Boston University tower in Kenmore Square area will look like stack of books

Boston University’s planned 19-story tower at 645-665 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston’s Kenmore Square area will resemble a stack of books, according to the school.

That’s no coincidence: The tower is set to host the university’s data sciences center, including the mathematics, computer science, and statistics departments.

The building—which Toronto-based KPMB Architects is designing—will also be the tallest on BU’s campus and will replace a surface parking lot. A basement, a four-story podium, 13 floors on top of that, and then a top floor (like the basement) for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing apparatuses will comprise the tower.

“They asked us for something—they used the word ‘iconic,’” Marianne McKenna, a KPMB Architects founding partner, said through the school.

Rendering via KPMB Architects

It will be open to the public in addition to hosting classroom, research, and administrative space. Construction could take up to 28 months once it starts.

• BU proposes to build data sciences center, aiming to become leader in booming field [BU Today]
• Boston University tower would replace parking lot in Kenmore Square [Curbed Boston]