First Church in Boston is a cathedral located in the Back Bay, a historic neighborhood that illustrates the evolution of American architecture in 19th and 20th century. Following a devastating fire in 1968, architect Paul Rudolph took a portion of the surviving 1876 façade and built a modern design for a new building. The slender stone spire and portico are all that remain of the original church, but they create a view from Berkeley Street, which draws pedestrians into an amphitheater-like courtyard. 

The space extends gracefully from the interior of the modern cathedral, creating an exterior sanctuary and gathering space.