Lyrik Back Bay: A Triumph of Urban Innovation and Engineering Excellence
Suffolk, a recognized leader in innovation and construction management, and Samuels & Associates, a prominent Boston-based real estate development and investment firm, are celebrating the significant industry recognition garnered by their transformative project, Lyrik (formerly known as Parcel 12). This groundbreaking mixed-use development has been honored with multiple prestigious awards, celebrating its unparalleled excellence in planning, design, and complex construction within an exceptionally challenging urban environment.
Lyrik stands as a historic achievement for the city of Boston, representing the first air-rights development built above the Massachusetts Turnpike in over four decades. This distinction alone highlights the project’s monumental complexity, as it effectively revitalized a long-underutilized parcel, reimagining the possibilities for high-density development directly over active transportation infrastructure. The project’s success serves as a powerful model for bridging urban divides and reconnecting communities separated by vital transit corridors.
A Showcase of Industry-Leading Recognition
The project’s ingenuity and execution have been widely acknowledged across the construction and real estate sectors. Lyrik recently secured the coveted Engineering News-Record (ENR) East’s Best Regional Project in the Mixed-Use category and was further recognized as a finalist for ENR New England’s prestigious Project of the Year.
Beyond ENR, the development was honored with the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Project Achievement Award in the Residential/Mixed-Use category (for projects valued over $50 million). The Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP) bestowed its Distinguished Development Award upon Lyrik, acknowledging its significant impact on the commercial real estate landscape. Finally, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Boston chapter recognized the building’s operational excellence by awarding it The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) Award for Mixed-Use Building of the Year.
Engineering Mastery Over an Active Highway
The success of Lyrik required far more than traditional construction methods; it demanded a uniquely coordinated, technologically advanced, and precision-driven approach. The entire structure was built directly above the active lanes of the Massachusetts Turnpike and live MBTA rail lines, necessitating an extraordinary level of coordination between Suffolk, Samuels & Associates, MassDOT, MBTA, engineers, and dozens of trade crews.
Suffolk leveraged its Digital Delivery process, which included extensive Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) integration, field-driven mockups, and meticulously coordinated drawings. This proactive digital modeling was critical in eliminating design conflicts before ground was broken, leading to a significant reduction in costly rework in the field.
The physical construction of the platform—the deck of massive steel beams supporting the entire development—was a masterpiece of logistical coordination. To safely install these beams over the active highway, Suffolk implemented a strict protocol of “rolling roadblocks.” These brief, highly controlled temporary closures of traffic provided the crews with short, minute-long windows to lift and secure the materials, after which the lanes were immediately reopened to drivers. This precision-engineered process ensured the structural integrity of the build while guaranteeing uninterrupted transit operations and minimal disruption to the commuting public.
A Vision of Collaboration and Innovation
Patrick Lucey, General Manager, Northeast, at Suffolk, praised the collaborative spirit that defined the project: “Lyrik is a symbol of what can be achieved when committed partners share a vision and work together relentlessly to make that vision a reality. As the first air-rights project in Boston in more than forty years, Lyrik was an incredibly complicated project that required construction above an active highway and transit infrastructure. The entire construction process required collaboration, innovation, precision and creativity to ensure success. We are incredibly proud of these accomplishments and we are honored Lyrik has been recognized.”
Abe Menzin, Executive VP of Development & Principal at Samuels & Associates, highlighted the project’s broader urban significance: “Lyrik represents the culmination of a shared vision, redefining what’s possible in urban development and strengthening the fabric of the city we call home. This project exemplifies the power of public-private partnership, technical innovation, and the enduring vibrancy of Boston’s neighborhoods. Lyrik transforms a space that once divided two neighborhoods into a dynamic gateway that celebrates our community and brings people together.”
Transforming the Urban Landscape
Lyrik serves as a dynamic gateway, successfully connecting Boston’s historic Back Bay and vibrant Fenway neighborhoods. The expansive 655,000-square-foot mixed-use development masterfully integrates office, hospitality, and retail spaces. Key features include a contemporary CitizenM hotel; modern office and research space anchored by the technology firm CarGurus; and a curated collection of street-level dining and retail experiences, notably including a Rivian electric vehicle showroom and service hub.
The successful delivery of Lyrik reaffirms Suffolk’s standing as a premier builder capable of executing the region’s most complex and impactful development projects. This achievement joins a portfolio of recent notable work, including the award-winning Winthrop Center, the transformative expansion of the South Station Tower, the Northeastern University EXP research facility, and the landmark Boston University Center for Computing & Data Sciences. These projects collectively demonstrate Suffolk’s enduring commitment to shaping the region’s skyline, strengthening community connections, and continually redefining the boundaries of complex urban construction.
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