Groundbreaking Held for New Residence Hall

Emerson Chair of the Board of Trustees Jeffrey Greenhawt, Emerson College President Lee Pelton, Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, and Boston City Council President Bill Linehan take part in groundbreaking ceremonies at 2 Boylston Place.

Emerson College broke ground October 29 at 2 Boylston Place, the future site of a 380-bed residence hall.

Emerson President Lee Pelton
 and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Jeffrey Greenhawt, welcomed Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as well as some 100 people to the groundbreaking ceremonies in the brick alley off of Boylston Street.

Among the attendees were members of the College’s Board of Trustees, city officials, and other dignitaries.

In his remarks, Pelton expressed pride that Emerson responded to Mayor Walsh’s call last year for colleges to provide more on-campus housing. “We are thankful for the opportunities to engage with the Boston community and contribute to the city’s downtown core.”

Greenhawt said that 2 Boylston Place “is sure to be a wonderful addition to the campus, the student experience, and the City of Boston.”

Mayor Walsh praised the College for “always looking for ways to engage in the city,” and for “always going bigger and reaching higher heights.”

With expected completion in the summer of 2017, the residence hall will be ready for student occupancy at the beginning of the 2017-18 academic year.

President Pelton (left) and Boston Mayor Walsh at the ceremonies