Boston South Station Completes Major Redevelopment With New Tower, Concourse

One of the busiest transit hubs in New England has a new look. 

Boston's South Station has undergone renovations that honor its history while reflecting contemporary design for today's travelers.

The Beaux-Arts station's redevelopment was led by Pelli Clarke & Partners in partnership with Amtrak, the Boston Planning & Development Agency, the MBTA, and MassDOT. It marks the first significant upgrade to the 126-year-old station since the 1980s, according to a Hospitality Design report.

A centerpiece of the design is the transformed Great Space, a new south entrance concourse featuring 10 concrete arches and three six-story domes.

“The completion of Boston South Station marks a radical transformation of the passenger experience, ensuring longevity through enhanced transit connectivity and reimagined public spaces,” said Fred Clarke, co-founder and partner emeritus at Pelli Clarke & Partners, in a statement shared with Hospitality Design. “We sought to honor the station's heritage while re-establishing it as a civic centerpiece through progressive design and sustainable construction. This redevelopment positions South Station as both a vital urban landmark and a symbol of Boston's capacity to adapt, evolve, and lead.”

One of the newest features of the renovated South Station is a 51-story mixed-use tower. Its design “reshapes the skyline while thoughtfully complementing the surrounding urban fabric and remaining respectfully attuned to the historic headhouse it rises above,” said Graham Banks, partner at Pelli Clarke & Partners.

The tower delivers 680,000 square feet of office space, 166 Ritz-Carlton residences, retail establishments, dining spaces, and amenities, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic city and harbor views. A multilevel podium at the base supports the tower, housing shuttle lobbies, retail, and restaurants, with a landscaped one-acre rooftop park for tenants and residents.

Boston South Station has achieved LEED Gold pre-certification and is slated to receive a BREEAM “Excellent” rating. It is also recognized with a GRESB Green Star.