City of Boston - City Hall and Plaza Renovations

Boston City Hall Plaza came to life through the 1962 Boston City Hall Competition. The winning design submission of I.M. Pei’s Government Center Urban Renewal Plan was constructed between 1963 and 1968. It was selected for its ability to represent a strong civic identity. The resulting Brutalist structure became iconic for its bold forms and use of concrete and brick, offering a civic space that connected government with the public. Though iconic, the structure and plaza sparked mixed reactions from the public, often criticized for its harsh materials, lack of comfort, and accessibility challenges. Still, for over five decades, the plaza was the city’s central gathering space and a home to major events, concerts, protests, and celebrations. Despite its symbolic value, the plaza remained underused in everyday life due to exposure to wind and sun, limited shade, minimal seating, and barriers to mobility. 
 

In 2020, a major preservation and renovation effort began to reimagine City Hall Plaza while protecting its historical significance. The goal was to honor the architectural legacy while making the space welcoming. Working closely with the Landmarks Commission, the design team maintained essential material elements like the brickwork, but reintroduced them with modern updates, such as permeable paving and accessible layouts. A key achievement was restoring the North Entry, closed since September 11, 2001, which was reopened as a major civic entrance with improved public access. Accessibility became a top priority, and the once-difficult ‘mountain of steps’ was replaced with paths and promenades, allowing universal access across the plaza.
 

Boston City Hall Plaza is now a transformed space that reflects the city’s values of accessibility, sustainability, and inclusivity. It still hosts large civic events, but now also supports everyday use with added seating, shaded areas, and inviting gathering spaces. Thoughtful landscaping with over 250 new trees and thousands of native plants covers more than half the site, improving stormwater management and creating a more comfortable, ecologically friendly environment. A standout addition is the playscape designed in a ‘Kinder Brutalism’ style that invites children and families to enjoy the plaza in new ways. A civic pavilion with indoor program spaces and public restrooms adds to the plaza’s year-round functionality. The renewed plaza offers a dynamic and inclusive environment for all, reconnecting people to a government space and creating a shared space that honors its historic legacy while looking ahead to fit Boston’s future.
 

Owner/Developer of Project/Major Tenant
City of Boston
Owner’s Project Manager    
Skanska
Architect    
Sasaki Associates
General Contractor    
Shawmut Design and Construction

Project Team
SGH
Weston & Sampson
Sasaki Associates
Arup
Sasaki Associates
Jeremy Bittermann Photography

Other specialty subcontractors    
A & A Window Products
Allegheny Contract Flooring
Architectural Building & Restoration
Atlantic Bridge & Engineering Inc.
Atlas Drilling
Betons Prefabriques du Lac
Bonaco
BrightView Landscape Development Inc.
Cogswell Sprinkler
Commonwealth Plumbing
Contexture Inc.
Contracting Specialists Inc.
Curtain Wall Design & Consulting
Dandis Contracting Inc.
Delta Fountains
Design Communications Ltd.
Frank O. Waterman & Associates
General Air Conditioning & Heating
Greenwood Industries
Harold Brothers Mechanical Contractors
Irrigation Consulting
Island International Industries NE
JAJ Tile Company 
JC Higgins
JMK Door Solutions
Joseph P. Carrara & Sons
JP LaRue Inc.
Kirkwood Printing
LAM Partners
Lockwood Remediation Technologies
Lynnwell Associates
Mark Richey Woodworking & Design
Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering
Mass Crane & Hoist Services
ML McDonald Sales Company
New Quality Fence Corp
NorthStar Contracting Group
OverUnder Architecture
Quinn Bros of Essex
S&F Concrete Contractors Corp.
SMJ Metal
SPS New England Inc.
Sullivan & McLaughlin
Triumph Modular
Unified Abatement Services LLC
UTS of Massachusetts
The Waterproofing Company LLC
The Welch Corp. Contractors
The Woodworks Arch Mill
WL French Excavating Corp.