Emerson's 80 Boylston St Building Gets Fresh New LEED Look

By Jen Cole

Starting last month, 80 Boylston St was taken offline as a dorm for Emerson College and began an estimated 2-year renovation plan. Suffolk Construction was selected to complete the historic renovation of Emerson College’s Little Building. The Little Building was originally built as an office building in 1917 (100 years ago!) and was then converted to a dormitory and dining hall in 1995. The building consists of ornate cast stone on the Boylston and Tremont Street façades and brick masonry on the other two façades.

This incredible renovation is targeting LEED gold upon completion. A major component of the project scope includes replacing the exterior façade with high-performing architectural precast concrete. The existing conditions of this ornate façade are being replicated using VDC and 3D Laser Scanning technologies to preserve and replicate the historic nature of the building. Additionally, there will be major interior renovations on floors 2 through 12 and the construction of a new 13th floor located behind a 14-foot parapet. Interior renovations include new common rooms, student social spaces, and updates to the 450-seat dining facility. The building is currently 238,955 gross square feet and, upon completion, will increase to 275,900 square feet. The renovations and addition will result in an increase in the number of students the building can accommodate: from 750 to 1,044 student residents. Look forward to seeing this beautiful new building to be completed in Fall of 2019 located in the heart of our city downtown by the Boston Common!