Boston – A topping off was recently held at Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences, part of the hospitality group Accor. Located at 430 Stuart Street, Raffles Boston joins Raffles’ collection of 17 properties located throughout the world, from Singapore to Paris, Bali to Phnom Penh, and Dubai to the Maldives.
Sky Lobby / Rendering courtesy of Stonehill Taylor
The final beam was decorated with a Raffles flag and a Travelers’ Palm Tree, which signifies a welcoming oasis and is the inspiration for the Raffles brand logo. To commemorate the milestone, construction workers joined local developers Jordan Warshaw, The Noannet Group, and Gary Saunders, Saunders Hotel Group; their partners at Cain International, the privately held investment firm led by Jonathan Goldstein; Suffolk; The Architectural Team, Inc. (TAT); and Madison Realty Capital.
By securing the air rights over the adjoining University Club, Raffles Boston was able to build a 35-story building employing a cantilever structure designed by Boston-based structural engineers, McNamara Salvia. TAT and McNamara Salvia created a structural system utilizing a combination of concrete superstructure and massive steel trusses, all supported by a series of 130 foot long concrete caissons anchored in bedrock. With the completion of the building’s structure, the project team will now finalize the installation of its dynamic glass curtainwall facade, marking another important step toward opening.
Indoor pool / Rendering courtesy of Rockwell Group, Binyan Studios
The property’s 147 guestrooms and 146 residences are joined by 16 distinct gathering spaces, ranging from quiet and intimate to vibrant and social, including a variety of special venues dedicated solely to building residents. Highlights within the gathering spaces include six food and beverage venues, a 3-story Sky Lobby perched high above Copley Square, a state-of-the-art Raffles Spa, a 20-meter indoor pool and fitness center, a rooftop garden terrace lounge, and a ballroom with expansive views over the Charles River.
Targeting completion by early 2023, Raffles Boston will provide over $22 million in public benefits in total, including street and public realm improvements, seven on-site affordable housing units and a contribution of over $13 million that will support additional affordable housing in Boston.
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“Raffles is one of the most prestigious and beloved brands in our Accor portfolio, and to see this exceptional project, the first mixed-use Raffles property in North America, brought to life with such incredible precision and care is certainly remarkable,” said Heather McCrory, CEO, Accor North & Central America.
Writers’ lounge / Rendering courtesy of Stonehill Taylor
“We’re thrilled to mark this milestone as the Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences reaches full height and prepares to take its place in our city’s skyline,” says Michael E. Liu, AIA, NCARB, senior partner and design principal at TAT. “From its innovative cantilevered structure to the distinctive, curved form, this graceful tower has been designed to enrich the urban fabric and offer an exciting new set of experiences for Bostonians and visitors alike. Seeing the final beam raised is a major step towards this goal and a proud moment for the entire team of project partners.”
“We are honored to play a leadership role in the planning and construction of the incredible Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences project for the development team and City of Boston,” said Jeff Gouveia, executive vice president and general manager of Suffolk Northeast.
