COMMONWEALTH AVENUE MALL STATUE LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPE ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

Fondly referred to as the central boulevard of the Back Bay, the Mall connects the Public Garden to the Back Bay Fens. Inspired by Parisian Boulevards, the mall is a vital resource of beautiful large-scale shade trees, benches, walkways and sculptures that are enjoyed by millions of visitors every year.

KEY OBJECTIVES:

• Design and install lighting for the statues along the mall
• Enhance the beauty of each statue by improving the surrounding stonework, landscaping, and walkways
• Utilize the latest, most energy efficient lighting technology
• Increase nighttime safety with added lighting

With just two statues between Massachusetts Avenue and Arlington Street remaining to be lit, the Friends vision for the park is slowly being realized.

Each statue and its landscape presented a unique set of design challenges. Pandemic-related supply chain issues, particularly for granite and lighting components, added time and expense to a project first conceived more than thirty years ago. The final two statues – Alexander Hamilton and John Glover – are expected to be lit in the fall of 2023.