clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Boston's Dorm-Construction Boom, Mapped

View as Map

Boston is seeing some of its briskest residential and hotel development in living memory, with thousands of apartments, condos, and rooms going up across the city. There's also a dorm-building boom that, while not quite as loud as its apartment/condo big brother, is just as significant. Universities and colleges are undertaking or wrapping up major projects that will alter the skyline and, hopefully, the housing market as well, as schools absorb more of their students from the general population scrambling for a place to live in a market with a frustratingly finite supply. The eight projects either recently wrapped, planned or under construction are expected to add lodging for well over 4,000 students in Boston and possibly quite more, given that some of these units are apartments and not merely long, thin rooms with twin beds and a Belushi poster.


· Updating Our Map of the Many Hotels Going Up in Boston [Curbed Boston]
· The Biggest Greater Boston Apartment Openings in 2015 [Curbed Boston]
· Boston Rents Are Just Never Coming Down. Ever. [Curbed Boston]
· Our Curbed Maps archive [Curbed Boston]

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

GrandMarc Hall

Copy Link

Northeastern's 720-bed, 17-story building opened in 2015, and kicked off this dorm-building boomlet for Boston.

2150 Commonwealth Avenue

Copy Link

This dormitory complex for 490 students is supposed to be ready this fall. It involved knocking down Boston College's existing More Hall, and it includes a mixture of four- and six-bed apartments.

10 Burke Street

Copy Link

Northeastern University announced plans for this 800-bed residence hall in December, after meeting with area residents. It will be 230 feet, or 20 stories, high and feature apartment-style layouts.

Julie Hall

Copy Link

Emmanuel College plans to demolish the existing Julie Hall and put in its place a 19-story, 691-bed replacement. It is scheduled to open by fall 2018.

1-3 Boylston Place

Copy Link

Emerson College officially broke ground on this 380-bed, 18-story dorm in October. Construction is scheduled to wrap in the summer of 2017.

The Old St. Gabriel Monastery

Copy Link

Private developers plan to file a multi-building proposal with the city by the middle of this year that would plunk 400 to 500 apartments on the 11.8-acre site. These units would be aimed toward graduate students in general (i.e., not affiliated with any particular university, according to the Globe).

Student Life and Performance Center

Copy Link

Work is underway on this hub for the New England Conservancy, the school's first new construction since 1959. It will include a 250-bed dorm as well as a theater, rehearsal space and a dining commons. It is all scheduled to open next year.

The Little Building

Copy Link

Emerson expects a renovation here to add 290 beds to the 750-bed building. Work is scheduled to wrap in time for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Loading comments...

GrandMarc Hall

Northeastern's 720-bed, 17-story building opened in 2015, and kicked off this dorm-building boomlet for Boston.

2150 Commonwealth Avenue

This dormitory complex for 490 students is supposed to be ready this fall. It involved knocking down Boston College's existing More Hall, and it includes a mixture of four- and six-bed apartments.

10 Burke Street

Northeastern University announced plans for this 800-bed residence hall in December, after meeting with area residents. It will be 230 feet, or 20 stories, high and feature apartment-style layouts.

Julie Hall

Emmanuel College plans to demolish the existing Julie Hall and put in its place a 19-story, 691-bed replacement. It is scheduled to open by fall 2018.

1-3 Boylston Place

Emerson College officially broke ground on this 380-bed, 18-story dorm in October. Construction is scheduled to wrap in the summer of 2017.

The Old St. Gabriel Monastery

Private developers plan to file a multi-building proposal with the city by the middle of this year that would plunk 400 to 500 apartments on the 11.8-acre site. These units would be aimed toward graduate students in general (i.e., not affiliated with any particular university, according to the Globe).

Student Life and Performance Center

Work is underway on this hub for the New England Conservancy, the school's first new construction since 1959. It will include a 250-bed dorm as well as a theater, rehearsal space and a dining commons. It is all scheduled to open next year.

The Little Building

Emerson expects a renovation here to add 290 beds to the 750-bed building. Work is scheduled to wrap in time for the 2019-2020 academic year.