Plaza Renovation Over Boston’s Oldest Tunnels-Video

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Boston City Hall Plaza was redesigned to make its steep, underused eight-acre space accessible and welcoming to everyone. The work took place above several historic MBTA tunnels, requiring the team to protect tunnel structures and maintain uninterrupted subway service.<br /><br />Weston & Sampson, Shawmut Design and Construction, the City of Boston, and project partners coordinated closely from planning through construction. The design used deep micropiles, precast bridging structures, lightweight fill, and careful excavation to limit loads on the tunnels. Extensive monitoring tracked settlement, vibration, and structural movement. Shawmut and Weston & Sampson also reviewed construction equipment, crane locations, access routes, and temporary work conditions.<br /><br />The completed plaza features accessible routes, gathering spaces, a civic pavilion, a playground, and green infrastructure that collects stormwater for irrigation. Early collaboration and clear communication helped the team address complex logistical constraints while protecting transit operations and delivering a renewed public space for Boston.

Keywords

Boston City Hall Plaza

MBTA tunnels

micropiles

accessible public space

stormwater management