City of Boston – Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building

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Location
Boston, MA
Project Type
Ground-Up
Duration
33 Months
Square Footage
215,000 sf
Partners
Sasaki Associates; Mecanoo Architecten; PMA Consultants

The Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building is a 215,000-square-foot facility that serves as the headquarters for Boston Public Schools and houses the Roxbury Innovation Center. Shawmut meticulously integrated three historic façades, including the iconic Ferdinand’s Building, into the new structure—preserving the five-story brick, terra cotta, and limestone façade. This complex project, central to Nubian Square’s revitalization, required careful coordination with the Boston Landmarks Commission and Massachusetts Historical Commission. Shawmut also exceeded ambitious diversity hiring goals, achieving some of the highest percentages ever recorded in Boston. Throughout the construction, the team implemented extensive logistical planning to minimize disruption to the adjacent Nubian Square bus terminal. The building earned LEED® Gold certification, further underscoring its commitment to sustainability and community impact.

Recognition

  • Boston Society of Architects Honor Awards for Design Excellence 2017
  • Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence Silver Medalist 2017
  • Boston Society of Architects Harleston Parker Medal Winner
  • Boston Society of Architects People’s Choice Award
  • Boston Preservation Alliance Preservation Achievement Award 2016
  • CMAA New England Chapter 2016 Building – New Construction Project of the Year Award (Projects Greater Than $100M)
  • ENR New England 2015 Project of the Year
  • ENR New England 2015 Best Project – Government/Public Buildings Category
  • International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) Boston Award – Best Practices: Large Project; National BAC Craft Award – Most Innovative Use of Masonry
  • Preservation Massachusetts Inaugural Mayor Thomas M. Menino Award

Other City of Boston Projects

Interior kitchen and seating area
© Anton Grassl
Conference room with projector
© Anton Grassl
People sitting in waiting area in building
© Anton Grassl
Outdoor seating area with city skyline visible in background
© Anton Grassl
Kitchen and dining area with office spaces in the distances
© Anton Grassl
People walking in large, two story, main entryway
© Anton Grassl
People sitting and working in interior office
© Anton Grassl
People walking around exterior of building
© Anton Grassl
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Interior kitchen and seating area
Conference room with projector
People sitting in waiting area in building
Outdoor seating area with city skyline visible in background
Kitchen and dining area with office spaces in the distances
People walking in large, two story, main entryway
People sitting and working in interior office
People walking around exterior of building