Reprinted from ENR New England
After decades of planning and false starts, a 51-story tower is finally taking shape over Boston’s South Station, set to be one of the city’s tallest buildings.
The tower’s steel frame recently passed the 109-ft mark on its way to an eventual 680 ft, rising above the 604-ft, 33-story Federal Reserve building across Summer Street. At 60-stories and 790 feet, 200 Clarendon, better known as the John Hancock Tower, is Boston’s tallest building.
Texas-based developer Hines held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $1.5-billion South Station tower earlier this fall, delayed from early 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Set to open by the second quarter of 2025, the 1 million-sq-ft tower includes 166 luxury condos, 670,000 sq ft of office space and 500 parking spaces. Residential units will feature floor to ceiling windows, while the Ritz-Carlton brand will help oversee units and related building amenities, the developer says.
Hines also plans a second building over the tracks at South Station, estimated around 300 ft tall, for which it says it has secured needed approvals. The developer has not disclosed if it will be commercial or residential.
“The market has changed a bit with the uncertainty around getting people back into the office,” said David Perry, Hines senior managing director in charge of New England.
