How a skyscraper’s fatal flaw led to chaos and sickness: The architectural mistake that cost millions to fix

The John Hancock Tower, now known as 200 Clarendon Street, stands as Boston’s tallest building and a testament to both the architectural ambition and the engineering challenges of the time.

Announced in 1967 and designed by Henry N. Cobb of I.M. Pei & Partners, the tower’s construction began in 1968. However, the project soon ran into significant issues. Specifically, and quite crucially, it began to fall apart.

Upon construction, shocking rumours began circling that the tower had started sinking but these noises were vehemently denied by Hancock’s representatives. However, something that couldn’t be quashed were the reports that the building’s 500-pound glass windows were in fact falling out during high winds.

The wobbly story of 200 Clarendon Street

And there’s more. During excavation, temporary retaining walls failed, causing damage to nearby Trinity Church, a mistake which led to an $11.6 million lawsuit against John Hancock.

This problem persisted for four years, delaying the tower’s opening from 1971 to 1976 and escalating costs from $75 million to $175 million. Simply put, the issue was traced back to the flawed window design, something which wasn’t sorted until the replacement of all 10,344 panes of glass had concluded.

Further complications arose when it was discovered that the tower swayed excessively in high winds, leading to yet more changes: namely, the installation of interior reinforcements to prevent structural damage. Despite these setbacks, the building was finally dedicated on September 29, 1976, and received the American Institute of Architects’ National Honor Award in 1977.

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Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, the tower has since become an iconic part of Boston’s skyline, reflecting both the city’s aspirations and the lessons learned from its turbulent construction history. And it’s a lot less wobbly.

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