Boston, MA has been an American Field staple since we
founded the movement in 2012. But before our fifth season officially kicks off,
we’d like to shed some light on a Boston building that we’re proud to call
home.
The Innovation and Design Building, or
simply IDB, is a gorgeous 1.4 million square foot, eight-story,
acre-long, innovative industrial building in Boston’s Seaport/Innovation
District.
The IDB complex was constructed by the U.S. Department
of Defense in 1918 as a waterside storehouse for the South Boston Army Base. During
World War II, 50,000 people worked around the clock at the base repairing
American ships and distributing a wide range of military supplies.
In 1983, the land was acquired by the City of Boston,
where they established the Boston Marine Industrial Park and paved the way for
a space that could fuel Boston’s creative and entrepreneurial spirit. Today,
this park is home to more than 200 businesses, over 3,000 employees and hosts
one of the country’s largest working dry docks
In 2013, the IDB was purchased by American Field
sponsor, Jamestown L.P. Thanks to their thoughtful
stewardship and ambitious plans for revitalization, the IDB is now at
the center of a dynamic mix of companies and industries. These include the
world's largest start-up accelerator program for early-stage entrepreneurs, a
makers community of skilled artisans and craftspeople, architecture
and creative service studios, specialized manufacturing facilities, research
and development firms, and New
England's premier antiques market.
Future plans for this breathtaking space include activation
of the ground floor with the addition of food vendors, shipping container
kiosks, and seating, and the creation of new event spaces and
programming—amenities which will help IDB businesses recruit top talent in
their fields.
At American Field, we’re proud of our role in helping
Jamestown L.P. rebuild one of Boston’s most historic neighborhoods. Our events
are poised to drive new interest in the Innovation District, the IDB and the
many ways #MadeinUSA has a role in Boston.
When asked about hosting American Field, Jamestown L.P. President
Michael Phillips said, “It raises awareness about the variety of goods that are
being made in urban manufacturing centers across America. [The event is] a
perfect complement to the current mix of tenants at IDB, which includes many
influential contributors to Boston’s thriving maker community.”
A special thank you to
Jamestown L.P for providing us with information on IDB and for their unwavering
support of our movement.
