City Hall Plaza Renovation

About City Hall Plaza Renovation

Government Center, Boston, MA

Built in 1968, the 300,000+ square-foot building houses the Mayors Office and City Council Chambers, as well as all the city agencies. Its dramatic entryway is highlighted by brick which flows from Government Center Plaza through City Hall and down to Dock Square and the historic Faneuil Hall.

Renovations to the plaza will include updated civic spaces and programming capabilities, as well as added infrastructure that will make the Plaza more sustainable, including connecting Congress and Cambridge Streets with an accessible sloped Promenade activated by 21st century civic amenities like shady seating and gathering areas, a destination play space, public art space and an iconic water feature.

The community space will become universally accessible for residents of all abilities. Opening up the Plaza for all will include re-opening the second floor of City Hall Plaza to the public, allowing easier access to the building.

The renovation also includes 3,000 new welcoming spaces for residents to sit, 12,000 square feet of playscapes for children and families, and 11,000 square feet of terraces for pop-up play and interactive public art.

Seven new "plug and play" locations for community groups to utilize, with space for 10,000 - 12,0000 visitors on the main Plaza, and room for a 20,000 - 25,000 person gathering on the entire Plaza will be created

The renovation includes an increase in permeable surfaces that will soak up stormwater, planning ahead for severe weather in downtown Boston. The design also includes 100 new trees, improving the shade, scale and air quality of the Plaza. Fifty lights will be replaced with efficient LED technology, and 22,500 feet of granite and brick paving will be reused or recycled.