2 Boylston Place Officially Opens to Fanfare

Emerson’s newest residence hall and the many people who made it possible were feted Thursday, October 19, at an official opening ceremony on 2 Boylston Place’s 14th-floor terrace.

With Boston Common and the golden dome of the State House as a backdrop, President Lee Pelton and Board of Trustees Chair Jeff Greenhawt talked about the 18-story, 375-bed building with excitement and pride. And maybe a twinge of envy.

“I suspect all of us who are Emerson alumni are feeling a lot of pride in our alma mater,” said Greenhawt ’68, “and maybe a little jealousy as well, because I seem to remember my freshman dorm…not being quite the same.”

2 Boylston Place, which was completed in time for students to move in at the end of August, was designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects and built by Suffolk Construction. The building features a spacious, modern common kitchen; three large common lounges; a multi-floor, interactive spectrogram of one of the president’s speeches; and a ground-floor café that is open to the public.

Pelton, in his remarks, put the residence hall into the larger context of Boylston Place, the Emerson campus, and the surrounding city. 

The residence hall, as well as Emerson’s brand-new, multiuse Dining Center just steps away at the corner of Boylston Street, have invigorated Boylston Place, which Pelton said will soon resemble a “little French alley” with outdoor seating and plantings.

He said 2 Boylston Place contributes to Emerson’s vision of creating a “sense of place” for the College within the wider Boston community, helping the College and the city “animate” one another.

“This is an exciting moment for Emerson, and really, an exciting moment for Boston,” Pelton said.

The ceremony was attended by state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and Sen. Joe Boncore, whose districts include Emerson, as well as state Rep. Jay Livingstone; members of Emerson’s governing boards, who were in town for their annual October meetings; College administrators; and representatives from Elkus Manfredi and Suffolk.