he created to introduce his firm's work to prospective clients, McLaughlin's goal was to "construct and complete the buildings within the amounts appropriated," to deliver "results that are satisfactory at minimum cost, without sacrificing design, utility or other requirements," and to create a "design in harmony, with ... carefully designed interiors, and inviting, non-stereotyped exteriors."
Most of his buildings fit well into their surroundings. Little about their design overtly called attention to them; they seemed to have always been there, either as a part of the original building or a part of the neighborhood. That explains why McLaughlin's work, while still on display in virtually every Boston neighborhood and in many other cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts, has been overlooked by architectural scholars. Over time the ubiquitous nature of his work has made it almost invisible, and all but forgotten.
The Taylors became aware of McLaughlin through his work for the city. When McLaughlin was approached by John I. Taylor and first commissioned to design a new ballpark, he was given certain conditions. Although McLaughlin's initial drawings referred to the park by the generic name of "Boston American Base Ball Park," by the fall of 1911 it was common knowledge that the name of the new ballpark would be Fenway Park, for as Taylor explained, "It's in the Fenway section of Boston, isn't it?" All Boston ballparks to date had been commonly known by their geographical location, such as the Dartmouth Street Park (aka Union Park), which served as the home field for the Union Association club in 1884; the Congress Street Grounds, which was occupied by several teams from 1890 to 1896; the South End Grounds; and the Huntington Avenue Grounds. There was no reason to treat the new ballpark any differently. Besides, the name was already familiar. Owing to its location adjacent to the Fens, the Huntington Avenue Grounds itself had occasionally been referred to as "the Fenway Park," even within the pages of the
Globe.
Officially calling the new place "Fenway Park" was like putting on a comfortable old shoe.
Other conditions were more germane to McLaughlin's task. The park had to fit within the confines of the eight-plus-acre plot of land acquired by the Taylors. For continuity purposes, the playing field had to retain a similar orientation to the sun as the Huntington Avenue Grounds. Had that not been the case, it would have been possible to place home plate either in what is now the right-field corner or, less likely, the left-field corner. In either case right field, not left field, would have been Fenway's short porch (see illustration 1).
For insurance, safety, and economic reasons, the main grandstand had to be fireproof, made out of concrete and steel. Even though concrete construction, loosely defined, had been in use since the Roman Empire, steel-reinforced concrete construction, which allowed concrete to be used on structures much larger than before, had only been in use since the 1850s. Only in the last decade had the technology been developed that was eventually used in Fenway Park, which used reinforced concrete to create columns and girders that supported concrete floor slabs, resulting in a fireproof superstructure that was strong but also much lighter and cheaper than all-steel construction.
None of these issues gave McLaughlin any cause for concern. His work for the city of Boston had utilized modern concrete-and-steel, fireproof building techniques, including the use of reinforcing steel and concrete forms. And there was more than enough room on Taylor's parcel to site a ball field, including seating areas and office space for the club. The outfield dimensions were of absolutely no concern whatsoever. Had there been any thought that the field was too confining—particularly in left field—the field's orientation could have been slightly reconfigured to satisfy those fears, or a larger lot could have been
Most of his buildings fit well into their surroundings. Little about their design overtly called attention to them; they seemed to have always been there, either as a part of the original building or a part of the neighborhood. That explains why McLaughlin's work, while still on display in virtually every Boston neighborhood and in many other cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts, has been overlooked by architectural scholars. Over time the ubiquitous nature of his work has made it almost invisible, and all but forgotten.
The Taylors became aware of McLaughlin through his work for the city. When McLaughlin was approached by John I. Taylor and first commissioned to design a new ballpark, he was given certain conditions. Although McLaughlin's initial drawings referred to the park by the generic name of "Boston American Base Ball Park," by the fall of 1911 it was common knowledge that the name of the new ballpark would be Fenway Park, for as Taylor explained, "It's in the Fenway section of Boston, isn't it?" All Boston ballparks to date had been commonly known by their geographical location, such as the Dartmouth Street Park (aka Union Park), which served as the home field for the Union Association club in 1884; the Congress Street Grounds, which was occupied by several teams from 1890 to 1896; the South End Grounds; and the Huntington Avenue Grounds. There was no reason to treat the new ballpark any differently. Besides, the name was already familiar. Owing to its location adjacent to the Fens, the Huntington Avenue Grounds itself had occasionally been referred to as "the Fenway Park," even within the pages of the
Globe.
Officially calling the new place "Fenway Park" was like putting on a comfortable old shoe.
Other conditions were more germane to McLaughlin's task. The park had to fit within the confines of the eight-plus-acre plot of land acquired by the Taylors. For continuity purposes, the playing field had to retain a similar orientation to the sun as the Huntington Avenue Grounds. Had that not been the case, it would have been possible to place home plate either in what is now the right-field corner or, less likely, the left-field corner. In either case right field, not left field, would have been Fenway's short porch (see illustration 1).
For insurance, safety, and economic reasons, the main grandstand had to be fireproof, made out of concrete and steel. Even though concrete construction, loosely defined, had been in use since the Roman Empire, steel-reinforced concrete construction, which allowed concrete to be used on structures much larger than before, had only been in use since the 1850s. Only in the last decade had the technology been developed that was eventually used in Fenway Park, which used reinforced concrete to create columns and girders that supported concrete floor slabs, resulting in a fireproof superstructure that was strong but also much lighter and cheaper than all-steel construction.
None of these issues gave McLaughlin any cause for concern. His work for the city of Boston had utilized modern concrete-and-steel, fireproof building techniques, including the use of reinforcing steel and concrete forms. And there was more than enough room on Taylor's parcel to site a ball field, including seating areas and office space for the club. The outfield dimensions were of absolutely no concern whatsoever. Had there been any thought that the field was too confining—particularly in left field—the field's orientation could have been slightly reconfigured to satisfy those fears, or a larger lot could have been
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