Tower Finally Takes Shape Over Boston's South Station

Abstract

After decades of planning and false starts, a 51-story tower is finally taking shape over Boston's South Station. Texas-based developer Hines finally held a groundbreaking ceremony for the South Station tower earlier this fall, something the firm couldn't do in early 2020 due to Covid restrictions. Hines is gearing up for work on a second, somewhat shorter building over the tracks at South Station in the 300-ft range. Down to Work Working over the past two years has been focused on a 100,000 sq ft expansion of the bus terminal at South Station, which the developer was required, under its agreements with state officials, to do first before building the tower. The expanded terminal, which will connect with South Station, is taking shape on foundations that were installed between the tracks back in the 1980s. The logistics were challenging given the different city, state, and federal agencies that needed to be consulted, as well as the challenge of building amid the hustle and bustle of a busy commuter rail station, said Jeff Gouveia, Northeast president and general manager for the project's general contractor, Suffolk Construction. The tower itself required a separate and more substantial foundation than was originally planned, with early sketches for developing the air-rights over South Station never envisioning a structure of that size.