Ground Broken on Vertical Construction at South Station

Hines, the global real estate firm, today celebrated the successful beginning of the highly anticipated expansion and improvement of the Governor Michael S. Dukakis Transportation Center at South Station. The project is notable for its significant private investment in the city’s transit hub, and the continuation of South Station’s history of being a regional transportation core and destination. Project work began in January 2020. Hines leadership was joined by Governor Charlie Baker, Mayor Michelle Wu, Senator Lydia Edwards, and Chairman and State Representative Aaron Michlewitz. Developed by Hines and designed by global placemaker Pelli Clarke & Partners, the 51-story, 1,020,000-square-foot building will redefine the Boston skyline.

“This transformative project will result in significant improvements to South Station and a better experience for the travelers who use it,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration appreciates the collaboration with Hines, the City of Boston, community members and other partners which made this project possible.”

"This transportation center will embody what we want people to feel about our city when they first set foot here and what the ethos of Boston is - a place that is welcoming, connected, and inspiring to all," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "I want to thank everyone who has been putting so much work into the careful coordination, the safe work practices, and vision for what Boston can be and what our region can be."

“This is a historic moment with a historic coalition. It only demonstrates that in Boston, we do big things. But we do the best when we do them together. This is not just a tower but a beacon of our future and our call to meet the moment,” said Senator Lydia Edwards.

“This project is going to bring together transportation and aesthetics in a transformative way, and we are excited for the future and where this is going,” said State Representative and Chairman of Ways & Means Aaron Michlewitz.

“The vision for this project pre-dates Hines’ involvement, and it’s incredible to see it come to fruition after many years of successful collaboration among the MBTA, MassDOT, the City of Boston, the BPDA, the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak and others who share our passion and aspirations for this transportation hub and mixed-use private development project,” said David Perry, Hines Senior Managing Director. “Hines is incredibly proud of its role in this important public-private collaboration that will result in critical, privately-funded transit improvements as well as environmentally-responsible premium Class A office space and new housing opportunities to the city’s core.”

Currently, the South Station train station and bus terminal are two separate buildings, making connections between them difficult and inconvenient. The completion of the South Station Transportation Center will create comfortable and convenient transfers between all modes of transit, with direct connections between the rail and bus terminals.

The new outdoor concourse area will increase in size by 67% for an improved experience for passengers and people passing through the station. The tracks and platforms will be covered and the outdoor concourse will be transformed into an architecturally significant gateway to the city. The new bus terminal will increase capacity by more than 50% and will provide more convenient connections to the train and subway. Importantly, Hines has committed to supporting local employment opportunities, including at least 50% of the total work hours benefitting Boston residents; at least 25% of the total work hours will benefit people of color; and at least 10% of the total work hours benefiting female workers. Construction is being privately funded and, along with creating a new public space at the train station concourse, it will also improve the streetscape along Atlantic Avenue with new sidewalks, granite curbs, streetlights, greenery and street furniture, further activating the area and resulting in a vibrant, safe and welcoming experience for all.

In addition to transit and station improvements, the development will deliver a state-of-the-art office and residential tower positioned directly above South Station. Anticipated for delivery in 2025, the first phase of the project will offer approximately 670,000 rentable square feet of Class A office and amenity space as well as approximately 166 luxury residential condominium units and more than 500 parking spaces.

The office component will feature 29,000 square feet, primarily column-free, floor plates with 13 feet floor-to-ceiling heights and unobstructed views of downtown Boston and Boston Harbor. The residential component of the tower will offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom residences along with penthouse duplex homes. Office tenants and residents will be provided with market-leading amenities such as a large park situated on top of the parking garage; conference center; fitness and wellness center,a restaurant and landscaped terrace with a swimming pool and dining and entertaining space for resident use on the 36th floor.

Strategically located at the nexus between Boston's Central Business District and the rapidly growing Seaport District, the property has convenient access to Logan International Airport as well as the area's primary highways, including Interstate 93 and the Massachusetts Turnpike.

The building is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, WELL Gold certification and to be one of the first BREEAM “Excellent” ratings in the U.S. BREEAM is the world’s leading science-based suite of validation and certification systems for a sustainable built environment.

Photos: Hines

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