Back Bay

Back Bay Brownstone, Boston MA
Pointknown was engaged to document a grand Back Bay brownstone along Commonwealth Avenue, part of Boston’s nationally recognized 19th-century historic district known for its tree-lined mall and rows of Victorian townhouses. Our client needed accurate existing conditions to support renovation planning while respecting the building’s historic character.

Project Scope
This Back Bay project required a comprehensive capture of both exterior and interior conditions, including a highly detailed roof plan. Working around active occupancy and tight urban site constraints, our team delivered a coordinated digital record of the building from sidewalk to skyline.

Services Provided

High-resolution 3D laser scanning of all accessible interior spaces

Exterior façade scanning from Commonwealth Avenue and rear yard access points

Detailed roof geometry capture for pitches, dormers, chimneys, and drainage paths

Existing conditions modeling in Revit® for architecture and core structural elements

Coordinated 2D outputs, including floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, and a dedicated roof plan

Data Capture & Methodology
We deployed tripod-based terrestrial laser scanners to capture dense point cloud data throughout the brownstone, floor by floor. Exterior and roofline data were tied into the same coordinate system to ensure a seamless model. The result is a highly accurate, registration-checked dataset that can be revisited at any time as design evolves.

Deliverables

Clean, registered point cloud files for the full building

Revit® model suitable as a design-ready base for architects and engineers

Exported CAD plans and a fully coordinated roof plan for envelope, drainage, and structural review

Image sets and view exports for quick visual reference

Why It Matters
Back Bay’s historic streetscape was carefully planned in the late 19th century, with strict setback and design guidelines that produced one of the best-preserved examples of urban Victorian architecture in the United States. Accurate documentation is essential to maintain this legacy while modernizing interiors, improving building systems, and planning rooftop work that must respect the neighborhood’s historic profile.

By starting with a precise digital twin, our client and their design team can:

Reduce site visits and manual measurement time

Coordinate structural, MEP, and envelope upgrades with confidence

Evaluate roof and penthouse options using true-to-life geometry

Support review processes with the Back Bay Architectural District and other stakeholders

Project Highlights

Full-building existing conditions scan and Revit® model

Detailed roof plan capturing slopes, parapets, chimneys, and drainage

Historic Back Bay brownstone along Commonwealth Avenue

Single, coordinated dataset for architecture, engineering, and construction teams