Cambridge, MA — Architecture and design firm CambridgeSeven celebrates the Hilton Garden Inn Boston Brookline, the first all-glass building in Brookline, MA.
The iconic property at 700 Brookline Avenue marks a momentous transformation of a significant crossroads connecting Brookline Avenue, Route 9 and parts of the Emerald Necklace. Selected by Claremont Companies in 2018 to envision a vital new urban development in Brookline, CambridgeSeven designed a ten-story, 130,000 SF hotel with a footprint unique to its dynamic, triangular site, an approach that protects adjacent green space from unwanted shadows — a key element in securing community support and excitement.
“Breathing new life into an underutilized site of Brookline was an exciting challenge,” said Gary Johnson, President & Principal at CambridgeSeven. “We took much care to ensure Brookline’s newest landmark allowed for ample light into the neighboring Emerald Necklace, enhanced the urban street edge and still paid homage to the existing character of the Town of Brookline.”
Located along the historic Olmsted Emerald Necklace, the new property acts as a gateway between the Town of Brookline and Boston’s prestigious hospitals. CambridgeSeven worked closely with the Town Planners as well as the Planning Board, and Zoning Board to guide the community and zoning process and vision for a new, forward-thinking, yet contextual, urban hotel.
The hotel features Punch Bowl, a new tavern by local restaurateurs Jen and Josh Ziskin, which will also open today. The establishment will serve as a hub for locals, tourists and visitors to the many institutions in the nearby Longwood Medical Area.
The glass-clad hotel contains 174 guestrooms, two meeting rooms, the Punch Bowl bar and restaurant, as well as an indoor swimming pool and fitness room. All public spaces, including the 1,368 SF of meeting space, the 2,300 SF outdoor event terrace and on-site parking garage make the destination ideal for business or leisure stays. The entire project was designed to engage and activate the street level and link to the historic park and enhanced cycling and pedestrian paths. Its location is also convenient to the MBTA Green Line linking Brookline and Boston, and to Boston’s top colleges, universities and research centers.
“We are thrilled to welcome guests to this vibrant corner of historic Brookline,” said John Mitchell General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn Boston Brookline. “It’s exciting to be able to offer travelers the exceptional guest experience Hilton is known for in such a beautiful building with the convenience of a location just steps from the Emerald Necklace, the Longwood Medical and Academic Area, and minutes from Fenway Park, and downtown Boston.”
