Phillips Square Redesign
The City of Boston is partnering with residents and community organizations to plan, design and implement improvements for Phillips Square, between Essex Street and Beach Street. Here you will find opportunities to get to know this project as well as get involved.
We posted the Request for Proposals (RFP) on July 22, 2024, and received proposals from 3 teams (listed below). After thorough deliberations, we have awarded the contract to the team led by Sasaki Associates, Inc.
Four (4) proposals were submitted on Monday, August 12, 2024. The bidding teams were as follows:
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Klopfer Martin Design Group LLC.
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Kyle Zick Landscape Architecture Inc.
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NADAAA Inc.
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Sasaki Associates Inc.
Community Open House
Background information
Chinatown is a vibrant neighborhood with a thriving businesses and residential communities. The neighborhood has a rich history of community activism and many sites that celebrate the diversity and lived experiences of Chinatown residents.
Harrison Avenue has always been the center and one of the most important corridors of Chinatown. The Boston Transportation Department (BTD) implemented the Phillips Square Tactical Plaza in 2019, and with this project, we want to help improve Phillips Square, by making it safer, greener, more attractive, and more enjoyable for Chinatown residents and visitors.
The project started in November of 2024 with an inclusive community engagement process to determine a new design for the future of Phillips Square. Key principles informing the work include:
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Design through community engagement and design equitably
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Design with the utmost respect for history and focus on the future
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Address community needs through design
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Promote arts and culture and the sense of place and community
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Prioritize green and open spaces and green infrastructure to improve climate resilience and promote health
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Improve and create an attractive public realm
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Address parking and traffic flow concerns
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Design in a maintenance-conscious manner
The upcoming work will strive for a comprehensive solution to enhance the experience of the Harrison Avenue Corridor. Today, the wide, auto-centric Harrison Avenue thoroughfare is a result of the demolition of several rowhouses and the widening of Harrison Avenue in 1894. This project will focus on integrating the redesign of Phillips Square Tactical Plaza and the Harrison Avenue corridor to create a true "Northern Gateway" of Chinatown. We will create an attractive and vibrant space for Chinatown residents and businesses, while simultaneously improving climate resiliency in Chinatown.
On this page, you can stay updated on project progress as well as share your ideas and concerns. We want to hear your thoughts on the design of Phillips Square, transportation, green and open space, and traffic safety throughout this area. We look forward to your feedback!
What We Have Heard From You
The Phillips Square team, together with the Reconnecting Chinatown team, hosted the Community Open House in the new Josiah Quincy Upper School in Chinatown on March 1st, 2025. Over 200 community members and leaders attended the open house and provided valuable feedback on the three design directions of the "northern gateway" of Phillips Square. From the feedback we have received, the community would like to see:
- Space to be connected to nature
- Shade structure, tree canopy, or other cooling elements
- Space for events and gatherings
- Space that reflects the history and culture of Chinatown
On April 19th, 2025, the Phillips Square team hosted the Community Design Charrette to gauge the community's vision for the remainder of the existing plaza south of the "northern gateway". Over 50 participants attended the Community Design Charrette and engaged in exciting conversations with our designers. Nine design elements stood out from the feedback we received from the community. These elements are:
- Shade Structure with Vines
- Multi-use Plaza & Stage
- Kinetic Shade Structure
- Vertical Wind Break Panels
- Interactive Lighting
- Colorful Pavement
- Light Projection
We then compartmentalized these nine elements into four overall goals for the plaza:
- Providing Outdoor Comfort
- Reflecting the Diverse Cultural Identities of Chinatown
- Brighten the Space with a Vibrant and Lively Atmosphere
- Encouraging Community Gatherings through Flexible Spatial Design
These four overall goals are then translated to 9 action items
- Shade Structure
- Misting
- Permeable Paving
- Chinatown Identity
- Storytelling on the Ground
- Greenery
- Multi-use Plaza & Stage
- Lighting Effects
- Ample Seating
Design Directions for the Northern Gateway
At the March 1, 2025, Community Open House at the Josiah Quincy Upper School, we unveiled three (3) design directions for the new northern gateway for the Chinatown neighborhood at Phillips Square. These design directions were completely inspired by our wave 1 of community engagement. Since November of 2024, we engaged with over 200 community members and leaders in-person and hosted more than 8 targeted workshops. At the Community Open House, we saw over 180 participants show up to support Phillips Square. We appreciate the community showing up to the event, and we welcome all of your input!
This section will show you the design directions. While you look at these design directions, please complete our survey.
The first design direction is called "Moon Gate". This design direction features a moon gate as the new gateway of Chinatown at Phillips Square, creating a sense of place and arrival for residents, businesses, and visitors. This design direction was inspired by our first wave of community engagement, where many participants would like to see a gate-like structure at this location but would not like to see a replicated Chinatown Gate at this location.
While our survey has been closed, you can always reach out to us if you like certain elements of this design direction!
The second design direction is called "Green Delta". This design direction features a shade structure as the new gateway of Chinatown at Phillips Square, creating shading and greenery for residents, businesses, and visitors. This design is complemented by additional lighting, misting, and pavement treatment to create a vibrant space. This design direction was inspired by our first wave of community engagement, where many participants would like to see additional shade in this area.
While our survey has been closed, you can always reach out to us if you like certain elements of this design direction!
The last design direction is called "Chinatown Common". This design direction features a flat stage as the new gateway of Chinatown at Phillips Square, creating shading and a new space for events for residents, businesses, and visitors. This design is complemented by additional lighting, seating, misting, and pavement treatment to create a vibrant space. This design direction was inspired by our first wave of community engagement, where many participants would like to see additional shade, green infrastructure, and a vibrant space in this area.
While our survey has been closed, you can always reach out to us if you like certain elements of this design direction!
Community Open House
What we are looking at
On top of looking at the park, we are looking at sidewalks, lighting, bus stops, bike lanes, street trees, public spaces, green infrastructure (for stormwater management, for example), and more. We want to make sure you feel safe traveling along the Harrison Avenue corridor no matter how you choose to get around.
Ultimately, we want to improve safety, comfort, and environmental resilience in this area. To achieve these, design features to protect people and the environment may include strategies to increase shade and cooling with green spaces and retrofitted bus shelters, for example.
Our Engagement Plan
The process will be conducted in three “waves” of engagement:
- Wave 1 : Vision (November-January)
- Inform the community about the project and collect high-level feedback on
- big-picture visioning for the park.
- How: Community Meetings, Focus groups, Community Survey I, and Pop-ups
- Wave 2: Concepts (February & March)
- Share draft concept design alternatives for the park, and collect feedback on
- community preferences.
- How: Community Survey II, Community Design Charette, and Lunar New Year
- Pop-up
- Wave 3: Final Design (April & May)
- Finalize the design and share it with the community!
Community Design Charrette
Who we are coordinating with
There is a lot going on in Chinatown.
Our project team is coordinating with other City staff to collaboratively address community concerns. Our goal is to coordinate projects and not to overload you with meetings. Here are some relevant, related projects.
Creating a greener and more attractive connection between the two sides of the highway in Chinatown
Rezoning to preserve and empower Chinatown
Improving pedestrian safety
Slowing down vehicle speed by adding speed bumps on eligible streets
Plan for Downtown Boston and Chinatown
How you can take part
Our Past Meetings
We have started our community engagement process for Phillips Square!
Our team has started the community engagement process for Phillips Square! In this section, you can find past meetings and materials shared. Please also feel free to contact us if you would like to engage directly with us.
The Phillips Square team held a Community Open House.
We had an engagement session with the Chinatown Coalition.
We had an engagement with community groups in the Chinatown Neighborhood Council.
We had an engagement session with groups in the Chinatown Master Plan Committee.
We had an engagement session with the elders at the Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center.
We had an engagement session with the Maple Leaf Dancing Group. Click here for materials shared.
We had an engagement session with the Chinatown HOPE Resident Brigade.
We had an engagement session with the YouLead Group.
We had an engagement session with the Chinatown Residents Association.
We had an engagement session with the Chinatown Progressive Association.
We had an engagement session with the Chinatown Neighborhood Council.
We had an engagement session with the Residents and Families at 66 Hudson.
We presented at the Chinatown Rezoning Meeting at JQUS.
We joined the Community Engagement Day at the JQUS.
March 1, 2025 Community Open House
April 19, 2025 Community Design Charrette
Community Design Charrette
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