Mayor Walsh wants to bring City Hall into the 21st century
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has been taking steps to rejuvenate City Hall Plaza, but now the interior’s getting a makeover too.
Walsh unveiled a new project on Tuesday called Rethink City Hall, with the goal to turn the Brutalist building into a suitable hub for a cutting-edge city.
“We want to figure out a way to make the plaza more usable and welcoming,’’ said City of Boston’s property and construction commissioner, Tricia Lyons. “And we also want to figure out a way to renovate City Hall.’’
As the first phase of the project has just begun, no solid plans as to how they will be redeveloped have been confirmed yet, said Lyons.
The website addresses the vastly different ways in which people are working, and the plan’s goal is to convert the interior into a space that breeds collaboration and creativity.
The new City Hall rejuvenation project is on the back of some testing City Hall conducted over the summer, with astroturf and deck chairs in the plaza.
“One thing we noticed was the excitement,’’ said senior project manager Maureen Anderson. “Everyone was getting so excited about fake grass and plastic chairs.’’
That excitement could continue as the project aims to include as many voices as possible as they come up with designs and ideas to renovate and invigorate City Hall.
According to the site, research and analysis will occur from October to January 2016. The first half of the year will be dedicated to generating designs, June through September will focus on refining the plan, and implementation will begin in late 2016.
According to Lyons and Anderson, the website will be updated periodically to keep the public up to date on the process.
“Ultimately we want [City Hall] to be a building that welcomes its citizens and provides sufficient service. And we want it to be attractive and inviting to visitors and citizens of Boston,’’ said Anderson.
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