Plaza Renovation Over Boston’s Oldest Tunnels-PPT Presentation

PPT Presentation

Pdf Summary

The presentation describes the renovation of Boston’s City Hall Plaza, a large public space built in the 1960s. Its stepped levels and brick paving contributed to a reputation for being stark and windswept. Beneath the plaza lies a network of three MBTA tunnels: the Orange Line tunnel, dating to 1898; the Green Line westbound Hanover Street tunnel, opened in 1902; and Green Line eastbound and Government Center Loop tunnels, constructed in 1967. Together, the tunnels form a triangular network beneath the site.<br /><br />The renovation’s design includes a circular plaza, a civic pavilion, a reconstructed main plaza and terrace, a play area, and a sloped promenade. The promenade is intended to provide accessibility and emergency vehicle access.<br /><br />A key challenge is improving the public space while protecting the tunnels below. Design requirements include supporting HS-20 vehicle loading, preventing settlement that could affect ADA accessibility, limiting loads on the tunnels, incorporating green infrastructure, and maintaining MBTA service during construction.

Keywords

Boston City Hall Plaza

renovation

public space

MBTA tunnels

Orange Line

Green Line

civic pavilion

accessibility

green infrastructure

construction loading