Boston's "high spine," of which 222 Berkeley is an integral part, did not happen by accident. In 1961, when the old John Hancock Building was Boston's only skyscraper, a group of civic-minded architects envisioned a skyline of high-rise buildings that would define the city without encroaching on the historic neighborhoods of the Back Bay or the South End. Their vision has come to life in a silhouette of distinctive skyscrapers that stretch from the waterfront past the Prudential Center, including the pavilion-like crown of 222 Berkeley Street. Designed by renowned architect Robert A. M. Stern, this striking building has become part of the fabric of downtown Boston, an important business address and an enclave of high style shopping.