An office complex opposite City Hall
An October 2015 article described Center Plaza at 1–3 Center Plaza as a mixed-use complex of three office buildings, garage parking and ground-floor retail. Built in the 1960s and associated with Norman Leventhal, the complex was discussed as a substantial part of the area opposite City Hall.
The report said Shorenstein had purchased the property for $307 million in 2014 and planned a $25 million renovation. It described approximately 720,000 square feet, nine stories and 575 parking spaces.
What the proposal would change
The plan included about 21,000 square feet of penthouse office space and a roof garden. Pavers, lighting, benches, lobby improvements and planting were intended to improve the experience at street level. The account noted uncertainty about the exact planting arrangements.
The roughly 1,000-foot brick facade and deep concrete window surrounds were expected to remain, reflecting the reported cost of changing them. The developer hoped to attract restaurants and higher-end shops; those goals were not signed tenants or available lease offers.
The reported schedule and wider setting
The article said the Boston Redevelopment Authority signed off on plans in early October and work was expected before year-end. It placed the project alongside Congress Square, One Congress and Faneuil Hall Marketplace changes. This is the 2015 renovation account, not a claim about the complex’s present branding, tenants or condition.
Historical account attributed to the original Boston City Properties article. Underlying records and later outcomes have not been freshly verified.