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From YouTube: City Hall Plaza Reopening with Ribbon Cutting
Description
Mayor Michelle Wu came out to celebrate the grand re-opening of the renovated City Hall Plaza! The renovations included reopening the old North Entrance to City Hall, more handicap accessible walkways, water fountains, benches, and a state of art playground
A
And
that
storm
water
will
be
directed
to
a
10
000
gallon
rainwater
storage
tank,
so
that'll
also
be
saving
all
of
every
water
that
we'll
be
having,
and
that
way
we
can
also
reduce
the
need
that
we
have
to
pull
from
Boston's
water
system.
North
entrance
constituents
will
be
able
to
go
directly
to
second
floor
surfaces,
your
birth
certificates,
your
marriage
certificates,
paying
your
taxes
actually
and
doing
some
early
voting.
That's
really
exciting,
and
this
entrance
hasn't
been
open.
B
A
Since
9
11.,
so
we're
really
excited
to
have
a
brand
new
entrance
available
for
constituents,
so
it's
also
super
accessible
for
them.
We
used
to
have
18
000
feet,
linear
feet
of
branded
stairs.
So
now
it's
much
more
accessible
for
folks
to
be
able
to
access,
and,
as
you
can
see,
we
have
our
new
signature
playground,
which
is
pretty
incredible.
So
our
design
call
this
Kinder
brutalism.
As
you
all
know,
this
is
the
Boston
City
Hall
is
one
of
the
preeminent
examples
of
brutalist
architecture,
some
call
it
heroic
architecture
in
the
world.
A
We
love
this
building
and
we're
excited
to
see
those
elements
here
in
this
playscape.
I.
Think
the
other
thing
that's
really
nice
is
because
of
the
way
that
the
play
space
and
our
other
standing
spaces
are
terraced,
say
you're,
a
grandparent
who
needs
to
sit
say
that
you're,
like
a
caretaker
and
you
want
to
catch
up
with
your
other
friends.
You
can
be
at
a
different
part
of
the
plaza,
but
still
keep
an
eye
on
small
people
as
they're
really
enjoying
their
time
in
this
play.
Space
this.
C
A
And
there's
also
a
public
accessible
Terrace
space,
so
just
something
that
you
can
enjoy
one
of
the
nice
elements
throughout
the
plaza
that
was
extremely
well
designed,
there's
a
lot
of
uplighting
as
well,
so
people
are
less
likely
to
trip,
especially
this
time
of
year,
who
wants
to
trip
at
4
30
at
night?
That's
embarrassing!
A
D
Excited
to
welcome
you
to
a
reimagined
Plaza
this,
when
this
transform
innovation
of
the
plaza
is
a
space
for
all
residents.
It's
universally
accessible,
it's
a
new
Civic
space
for
all
to
use
increased
environmental
sustainability
and
critical
infrastructure
improvements
that
will
ensure
the
plaza
is
safe
and
accessible
for
generations
to
come.
Thank
you
to
all
the
elected
officials
that
have
joined
us
today.
D
D
Boston
City
Hall
was
originally
designed
to
be
a
place
for
forget
about
the
modes
of
government
and
to
blend
the
outside
public
realm
into
the
building.
It
is
the
duty
of
Civic
leadership,
City
leadership,
to
ensure
that
this
Civic
space
lives
up
to
these
values,
I'm
extremely
proud
that
we
have
the
leadership
that
has
done
that
this
project
has
seen
two
chiefs
of
operations
and
three
mayors
special.
Thank
you
to
former
mayor
Marty
Walsh
special
thanks
also
to
Mayor
Kim
Jane
who's.
D
E
Thank
you
so
much
Chief,
thank
you
for
your
leadership
every
day,
taking
care
of
this
amazing
space
and
building
and
all
of
our
facilities
across
the
city.
I'm
incredibly
honored
to
be
here,
I
know
it's
chilly,
so
I'm
gonna
make
my
way
through
a
few
more
recognitions
really
fast,
because
there
are
a
whole
lot
of
people
to
thank,
in
addition
to
the
administration's
past,
who
I'm
very
proud
to
take
the
torch
from
mayor
Walsh,
mayor
Janie
and
all
of
the
teams
that
have
worked
on
this
project.
E
E
I
think
as
most
snow
by
now,
I
got
my
start
as
an
intern,
For
Mayor
Menino,
and
getting
to
see
the
city
through
his
eyes
and
the
love
and
the
care
and
the
attention
to
every
detail.
No
issue
too
big
or
too
small
really
continues
to
inspire
me
every
day.
Her
stories
as
she
and
mayor
Janie
and
I
were
able
to
walk
through
and
take
a
quick
tour
of
the
new
improvements
really
stretch
back
to
to
remind
us
of
how
many
many
many
people
have
poured
their
hearts
into
serving
the
city
dreaming
for
its
future.
E
E
School
events,
community
events,
a
new
Pavilion,
that's
set
up
to
Welcome
All,
and
so
we're
really
grateful
we're
hoping
to
model
some
of
that
today.
We're
going
to
have
several
performances
later
from
our
young
people
and
students
in
the
Boston
Public
Schools.
So
please
join
me
they're,
going
to
be
performing
at
various
points
throughout
the
day.
Please
join
me
in
thanking
and
welcoming
the
O'brien
pep
band,
the
Mildred
Ave
steel,
pan
band,
the
Boston
Latin
School
Jazz
Ensemble,
the
English
High
drum
line
and
the
Elliott
School
choir.
So
looking
forward
to
all
of
those
performances.
E
Thank
you
again
to
the
teams,
our
operations
team
here
at
City,
Hall,
Carrie,
Griffin
of
the
public
facilities,
team,
Eamon
Shelton
and
his
leadership
of
the
property
management
team.
Commissioner
Kristen
McCosh,
ensuring
that
Universal
accessibility
was
here
in
this
space
and
everyone
across
the
city,
Chief
Cara,
Elliott
Ortega,
and
you
already
see
some
of
the
public
art.
So
our
chief
of
arts
and
culture
is
going
to
keep
cultivating
and
ensuring
that
that
continues.
Chief
Shogun
itawu
of
our
Economic
Opportunity
and
inclusion
cabinet.
E
We
will
have
spaces
for
small
businesses
right
from
our
communities
to
have
pop-ups
Chris
Carter,
who
leads
our
mayor's
office
of
new
Urban
mechanics
team,
Henry,
Vitale
of
Boston
Water
and
Sewer,
Amy
and
and
Michael
from
special
events.
Our
parks,
department,
I,
I,
know
Ryan,
is
here
somewhere
and
the
entire
Parks
team
ISD
the
fire
department,
the
comms
and
digital
teams,
age,
strong
landmarks,
commission,
the
Boston
police,
so
many
people
have
been
involved
in
this
project.
E
I
want
to
thank
our
partners
who
have
helped
make
this
happen
on
the
design
and
construction
side,
too
Mo
Gomez
from
Sasaki
Kevin
Sullivan
from
Shawmut
Neil
Davis
representing
skanska.
Thank
you
so
much
to
you
and
all
your
teams.
We
are
joined
by
our
amazing
team
at
City
Hall.
You
can
see
their
offices
right
above
some
of
the
most
prominent
architectural
features
highlighted
in
this
building.
E
E
We
wanted
to
focus
on
both
community
and
sustainability,
accessibility
and
fun,
and
all
the
ways
that
we
can
use
this
publicly
owned
space.
The
new
Plaza
has
12
000
square
feet,
a
fully
accessible
Adventure
playscape,
encouraging
our
littlest
leaders
to
actively
and
safely
explore
right
here
in
the
heart
of
downtown
I,
saw
on
Twitter
that
some
of
our
city
counselors
also
tested
out.
E
Some
of
the
features
already
made
me
I'll
come
when
I'm
wearing
not
a
skirt
we've,
also
added
more
than
3
000
new
places
to
sit
more
than
250
trees
will
be
part
of
this
Plaza
by
the
time
all
of
them
are
planted
and
tens
of
thousands
of
new
plants
to
clean
our
air
fight,
extreme
heat
and
create
more
green
space.
Making
this
a
vibrant,
shaded
and
welcoming
place
for
all
to
breathe
a
little
easier.
E
The
planted
areas
and
special
paving
materials
also
will
help
in
our
fight
against
climate
change
and
absorbing
the
impacts
they
will
filter,
roughly
180,
000
gallons
of
water
back
into
the
ground
during
storms.
All
of
the
spaces
that
you
all
are
still
we're
all
standing
on
here
today
and
throughout
the
plaza,
we'll
capture
that
storm
water
into
a
big
tank.
E
That
then,
will
be
used
to
maintain
all
of
the
the
green
and
keep
it
Lush
and
beautiful
here
and
before
their
Innovation,
because
there
were
stairs
everywhere
and
the
elevation
changed
from
different
levels
of
the
plaza
made
it
inaccessible
to
Residents
and
visitors
with
disabilities.
It's
been
a
priority
to
ensure
that
now
there
are
smooth
grades
that
are
fully
navigable
and
accessible
to
everyone,
whether
you
are
in
a
motorized
scooter,
pushing
a
stroller
or
walking
and
and
riding
a
bike
around
this
area.
E
The
new
design
also
replaces
the
stairs
from
Hanover
Street
and
has
made
all
primary
building
entrance
entrances
and
Main
Pathways
accessible
to
everyone.
Remember
when
you
couldn't
come
in
that
door
over
there
and
we're
always
directed
to
walk
all
the
way
around.
We
are
now
creating
more
entry
points
back
to
the
original
design
of
this
building.
E
The
space
reflects
our
values
not
only
in
the
finished
product,
but
also
in
the
process
that
created
it.
In
addition
to
the
collaboration
between
public
facilities,
the
Boston
Civic
design,
commission
and
the
Parks
Department,
our
teams,
Drew
on
the
creativity
and
vision
of
residents,
community
outreach
efforts,
involve
stakeholders
across
our
city
as
well
as
agencies
like
the
MBTA
and
with
the
help
of
virtual
reality.
Technology
Sasaki
had
also
invited
residents
of
all
ages
and
backgrounds
to
really
look
and
see
and
test
out,
with
virtual
simulations
of
the
space
and
give
feedback
that
way
as
well.
E
The
result
is
where
we
are
today,
a
space
designed
with
all
of
us
in
mind,
one
that
represents
the
role
and
responsibility
of
city
government,
to
create
spaces
physical
community
and
in
every
way,
in
between
opportunities
for
our
communities
to
find
beauty
and
joy,
inspiration
and
connection
in
the
home
that
we
share.
This
Plaza
wasn't
just
shaped
by
our
values.
It
brings
them
to
life.
It
was
built
by
the
people
of
Boston
for
the
people
of
Boston
for
generations
to
come
services.
F
F
E
Okay,
so
thank
you
so
so
much
everyone
we
have
a
full
program.
So
next
up
is
going
to
be
a
performance
by
our
Elliott
school
students.
Then
I'm
going
to
hand
it
off
to
commissioner
Kristen
McCosh,
chief
of
arts
and
culture,
karya
Elliott
Ortega,
our
lead
architect,
Mo
Gomez,
a
Boston
Poet,
Laureate,
Porsha
olajuola,
and
then
we're
going
to
do
the
official
ribbon.
Cutting
at
that
point.
So
just
the
ground
us
and
what's
going
to
happen
next
Welcome
to
our
Elliott
School
students.
G
G
G
G
G
I
Good
afternoon,
everybody
I'd
like
to
thank
Bayer
Wu,
especially
I,
am
thrilled,
honored
and
excited
to
be
here
with
you
today.
I
just
want
to
begin
by
saying
that
I'm
really
glad
this
unveiling
is
happening
under
mayor
Wu's
leadership,
because
it
truly
embodies
her
unwavering
commitment
to
equity
inclusion
and
access.
I
This
project
has
been
a
long
time
coming,
but
I
feel
like
I
can
say.
Honestly.
It
was
worth
the
wait
and
I
say
that
only
because
City
administrators
took
the
time
to
really
engage
the
disability
community
in
planning
and
transforming
City
Hall
Plaza
Disability
Advocates
with
a
wide
range
of
disabilities
provided
critical
input
into
this
plan.
I
They
are
the
true
champions
of
accessibility
in
Boston,
so
now,
I'd
just
like
to
highlight
a
few
features.
Accessibility
features
that
we
are
unveiling
today.
First
of
all,
there's
no
longer
a
set
of
stairs
to
the
front
entrance
of
City
Hall
beginning
today.
Nobody
has
to
try
to
find
a
ramp
to
get
in
the
front
door.
We
can
all
go
in
together.
I
I
Other
accessibility
upgrades
include
a
ramp
to
the
first,
the
fourth
floor.
Courtyard
smooth
and
accessible
Granite,
pavers
gently
sloped
walkways,
rather
than
stairs
better
lighting
and
improved
sidelines,
and
so
much
more
I
can't
wait
to
try
it
out
and
I'm
excited
to
have
our
Ada
Day
celebration
here
next
year.
I
I
When
people
with
disabilities
would
ask
me
what
were
the
accessible
route
to
City
Hall
was
I
would
Point
them
to
this
very
small
and
limited
path.
But
now
I
can
say
with
pride
that
people
with
disabilities
are
no
longer
limited
to
One
path.
Now
they
are
welcome
to
use
the
whole
Plaza
beginning
today
they
have
access
the
same
as
everybody,
and
that
is
a
thing
to
be
really
proud
of.
Don't
thank
you.
J
Hi
everyone
good
afternoon,
I'm
really
excited
to
talk
a
little
bit
more
about
arts
and
culture
and
the
new
City
Hall
Plaza.
We
are
so
excited
by
the
opportunities
here
for
Creative
expression
and
cultural
celebrations
that
this
renovation
brings
to
the
city
and
I'm
so
glad
that
Arts
and
Music
and
young
people
have
already
been
integrated
into
the
ways
that
we're
celebrating
the
opening
today.
J
This
space
now
has
the
accessibility,
the
infrastructure
and
design
to
be
activated
by
Boston's
residents
and
visitors,
for
Gatherings
events
and
celebrations
and,
of
course,
for
artists,
storytelling
installations,
festivals
and
all
the
ways
that
Arts
create
Community
by
bringing
us
together
for
shared
experience
as
a
Civic
space.
The
plaza
needs
to
be
reflective
of
all
of
Boston's
communities
and
cultures,
and
the
Arts
are
necessary
to
make
this
a
welcoming
place
that
belongs
to
all.
As
a
part
of
the
renovation.
J
We
released
a
call
to
artists
this
past
February
for
public
art
on
the
Plaza
and
commissioned
two
artists.
The
first
is
UK
Lee,
who
created
the
2D
Graphics
that
you
can
see
on
display
just
around
the
corner
on
the
west,
exterior
wall
of
City
Hall
and
the
wall
panels
near
the
Civic
Pavilion
Andrea
Vedra
was
commissioned
to
create
a
sculptural
installation,
that's
going
to
be
cited
near
the
north
entrance
and
installed
next
spring.
J
These
commissions
are
the
first
of
a
series
of
short-term
artworks
that
will
recognize
and
celebrate
the
stories
of
Boston
and
celebrate
City
Hall
Plaza.
Both
artworks
are
installed
for
a
year
and
are
going
to
serve
as
a
rotating
opportunity
to
showcase
the
work
of
a
variety
of
different
artists
in
the
years
to
come,
and
the
artists
of
these
projects
are
here
today
and
I'm,
not
sure
I
can
stop
them
right
now.
J
Oh
there's
one
over
there
are
UK,
so
please
come
find
them
and
say
hi
and
learn
more
about
the
artwork
with
the
six
new
areas,
around
the
plaza
to
Plug
and
Play
for
community
events
and
the
new
Civic
Pavilion.
There
are
also
so
many
more
opportunities
for
arts
and
culture
to
be
integrated
into
the
plaza
from
small
lunchtime,
events
to
large
weekend
festivals.
J
We're
going
to
start
trying
out
some
of
what's
available
to
us
now
after
the
renovation
on
the
Plaza,
starting
at
5,
PM,
with
music
by
DJ
weisham,
a
lighting
projection
by
Jeff
grants
and
luminous
featuring
images
by
artists
for
Humanity
and
a
lineup
of
local
poets
curated
by
our
own
Poet
Laureate
Porsche
olaywola.
So
we
hope
that
you'll
join
us
tonight
and
stay
tuned
for
more
programming
to
come
here
on
City
Hall
Plaza.
Thank
you.
K
And
lastly,
we
also
want
to
extend
a
resounding
thank
you
to
the
people
of
Boston
Who,
provided
the
ideas
and
feedback
that
made
this
wonderful
Plaza
reality
through
a
robust,
Community
engagement
process.
We
heard
you
and
connected
with
you
to
understand
how
you
wanted
to
use
this
new
landscape
as
part
of
that
process.
We
worked
very
closely
with
the
city,
PFD
PMD,
the
Arts
and
disabilities
commissions,
for
the
other
part
of
that
process.
K
We
also
conducted
public
workshops
right
here
in
the
plaza,
as
mayor
Wu
mentioned,
with
with
goggles,
to
understand
how
the
design
will
work
and
held
numerous
stakeholder
meetings
and
public
hearings
inside
this
building,
as
well
as
online
during
the
pandemic,
to
get
your
input
and
feedback.
It's
your
voices
that
helped
us
shape
and
Define
this
Plaza
and
form
the
key
principles
that
informed
the
design.
With
your
feedback
and
the
input
from
the
city,
we
identified
a
few
primary
design
goals.
K
The
first
was
to
make
the
plaza
welcome
for
all
people
of
all
abilities
and
of
all
ages.
The
second
we
identified
ways
of
creating
creating
flexible
spaces
for
all
kinds
and
types
of
events
and
the
third
we
focused
on
integrating
sustainability
throughout
all
aspects
of
the
design
in
addressing
the
first
goal,
to
make
it
more
welcoming
and
inviting
we
strove
to
create
a
place
that
everyone
can
enjoy.
As
you
heard
from
the
mayor
and
commissioner
makash
Equitable
access
was
at
the
essence
of
the
design,
but
to
achieve
that
was
no
small
task.
K
The
small,
the
Steep
steps
that
existed
on
the
old
Plaza
had
to
be
flattened
and
stretched
into
a
continuous
sloping
walkway
that
could
link
all
areas
of
the
site,
but
the
design
of
this
new
walk
to
make
it
universally
accessible
that
we
now
know
as
Hanover
walk
that
stretches
along
there
faced
numerous
obstacles
below
ground,
because
just
barely
below
that
surface
and
the
main
plaza
and
further
down
are
the
two
oldest
operating
subway
tunnels
in
the
nation.
This
presented
many
logistical
challenges.
K
The
Sasaki
was
able
to
solve,
through
close
collaboration
with
the
MBTA,
our
technical
consultants,
Western,
Sanson
and
SGH
and
through
sharma's
construction
team.
As
a
result,
the
project
never
interrupted
the
green
line
tunnel
operations
and
the
design
was
able
to
navigate
around
this
all
the
site.
Complications,
while
still
achieving
the
accessible
aspirations
for
the
Plaza
for
the
second
goal
to
create
various
flexible
event
spaces.
We
transformed
this
Barren
old
Plaza
that
had
nearly
no
areas
for
daily
use
into
a
place
with
a
broad
variety
of
spaces
for
events
Gatherings
and
just
for
the
everyday.
K
And
finally,
our
third
primary
goal
prioritize
sustainability
in
all
aspects
of
the
plaza
design.
As
the
mayor
noted,
the
addition
of
hundreds
of
trees
and
thousands
of
shrubs
and
perennials
across
the
site
provide
significant
environmental
benefits
in
order
to
support
all
those
planning
materials
in
a
sustainable
manner.
We
captured
all
that
rain
water
from
this
portion
of
the
site
and
collected
it
into
a
tank
that
sits
right
below
here
that
is
used
to
supply
irrigation
for
all
the
vegetation
across
the
entire
Plaza
and
eliminates
need
to
use
city
water.
K
K
L
L
L
L
Sistina
for
William
Bill,
Felton,
Russell
basketball,
like
black
life,
is
about
the
swivel,
the
pivot,
the
turn
the
build
of
the
risk,
a
balance
between
art
and
War,
a
measure
of
the
body's
will
and
Legend
has
it
no
player
hooped
like
Bill
Russell
Lord
of
the
Rings
defender
of
the
scoreboard,
wingspan
span
The
Horizon
skyscraper
limbs
the
city
perched
on
his
shoulders.
Despite
the
city
refusing
the
height
of
him,
he
swivel,
despite
the
fouling
of
his
name,
Bill
a
man
of
his
word
and
not
of
his
sword.
L
Riff
was
a
wrath
waiting
at
the
backboard
Legend
has
it
he
gave
birth
to
shot
blocking.
He
bodied
anybody
willing
to
sacrifice
their
body
bodyguard,
Center,
guard
on
and
off
the
court
in
and
out
the
city.
Legend
has
it
he
penned
the
Celtics
to
the
national
boards.
Rumor
has
it
will?
Chamberlain
has
nightmares
about
his
swivel
The
Story
Goes.
He
has
more
rings
than
fingers
more
wrists
to
flick
than
what
makes
sense.
Legend
has
it.
Bill
played
ball
on
an
empty
belly,
and
so
it
goes.
Bill
grew
hungry
eight
in
every
game.
L
If
you
purge
the
body
Victory,
it's
born
in
the
gut
the
man
born
in
the
risk
I
heard
once
he
returned
to
the
mayor,
a
key
to
the
city.
He
was
a
race
man,
Marchman
Martin,
Mega,
Muhammad
man,
civil
fight,
he
more
free
than
Freedom
desegregated
Boston
school
boards.
Legend
has
it.
He
ain't
ever
set
the
bench
always
at
the
Blackboard
locker
room,
Cathedral,
Heaven,
Must
Be,
the
hardwood
and
Bill
a
saint
to
the
paint.
Bill
rep,
a
green
jersey,
so
God
must
Rock
green
to
God
must
swivel
the
Earth.
L
How
Bill
did
the
ball
must
mold
each
player
into
one
body?
How
Bill
did
the
team
I
swear?
I've
heard
the
people
all
across
the
sick
gold
Citadel
speak
of
his
palm,
the
Precision
of
his
timing,
the
wake
of
his
wrist.
This
game
will
always
be
about
buckets
about
what
a
risk
demands.
Let
us
see
the
top
charts.
Let
us
see
his
Billboards
goatee
rookie
black
cape
cult,
mortician
for
the
city,
blessed
buried,
be
our
Rivals.
He
Big
Bill
go
for
big
bills.
L
If
you
make
a
hundred
thousand,
he
make
a
hundred
thousand
and
one
still
embodiment
of
goat
coach
player.
Pioneer
put
the
game
on
the
swivel
of
his
Hills
Celtic
City's,
luckiest
charm,
head
always
up
and
on
swivel
undertaking
bodying
the
basket
one
true
king
of
the
backboard
Beth
beacon
in
any
blight
bucket
blocking
Bill
Legacy
building
bill.
D
D
I
want
to
thank
my
wife
toy
for
being
here
and
my
mother,
Veronica
I
also
want
to
give
a
special
shout
out
to
the
PFD
director
Carrie
Griffin,
the
project
manager,
Brian
Melia
Maureen
Anderson
was
the
original
project
manager,
the
Susan
Rice
and
the
clerks
who
are
on
the
job
every
day.
Tom
McGrath
and
Pat
knee
I
also
want
to
thank
the
mayor's
office
of
urban
mechanics,
util
and
I.