127 Tremont — The Monty

At 127 Tremont, Balance Architects transformed a dilapidated office building into six luxury, full-floor residences above an expansive retail suite — steps from the Park Street T with sweeping views of the Massachusetts State House and Boston Common.

Our creativity drove the core moves: a full gut to the brick shell, selective floor removals, and a basement podium strategy to meet height and occupancy code while unlocking elegant, efficient plans. A modernized fire escape with ballasted stair runs and a new roof extension preserves egress on a tight floor plate, and each home enjoys private elevator entry for a discrete, gallery-like arrival.

Instead of basement infiltration, we designed an ultra-light intensive green roof that manages stormwater, supports full-depth planting with a custom lightweight soil mix, and frames panoramic views of the Common. Ultra-efficient HVAC and a high-R insulated envelope further reduce operational energy.

Our collaboration with city officials, code consultants, structural and MEP engineers, and neighbors aligned the building's mixed-use ambitions with rigorous life-safety requirements — delivering a refined, resilient project that prefigured Boston's office-to-residential wave.