Boston City Hall is the seat of the city’s municipal government, a landmark of the Brutalist architectural style completed in 1968. Designed by Kallmann, McKinnell & Knowles, its inverted-pyramid concrete form rising above a broad brick plaza is one of the most discussed and polarizing buildings in the United States — celebrated by architects and frequently criticized by the public. It anchors the Government Center district of downtown Boston, on land cleared in the 1960s urban-renewal redevelopment of the former Scollay Square.
The building houses the mayor’s office and city departments, and the surrounding City Hall Plaza hosts public events and gatherings. The interior is a working government building; visitors should consult Boston.gov for current public access, hours, and any events on the plaza.
Good to know
- Seat of Boston’s municipal government, completed in 1968
- A landmark example of Brutalist architecture by Kallmann, McKinnell & Knowles
- Anchors the Government Center district on the former Scollay Square site
- A working government building; check Boston.gov for public access and plaza events
Getting there
- Address: 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201
- Neighborhood: Government Center (Downtown Boston)
- Nearest T: Government Center (MBTA Green Line and Blue Line) is adjacent, with an entrance on City Hall Plaza