Digital 3D Mapping Brings New Insight to Boston City Hall Restoration

Boston City Hall, widely regarded as one of the most recognizable examples of Brutalist architecture in the United States, has undergone a comprehensive digital transformation ahead of major restoration efforts. Originally completed in 1968 as part of a redevelopment initiative designed to modernize the city center and stimulate economic growth, the building has long sparked debate among residents due to its bold concrete design. Today, a long-term restoration and improvement program aims to enhance the structure’s functionality, accessibility, and surrounding public spaces while preserving its architectural significance.

As part of the preparation for this initiative, the City of Boston partnered with architecture and landscape design firm Sasaki to support a multi-decade redevelopment plan covering the City Hall building and the adjacent plaza. Planned upgrades include improved accessibility features, additional seating and gathering areas, expanded green spaces, public art installations, and new recreational amenities intended to better serve residents and visitors over the coming decades.

To support these planning efforts, data capture specialists were tasked with producing a detailed digital representation of the building and surrounding grounds. Given the scale and complexity of the nine-story structure—spanning more than one million square feet and incorporating extensive atriums, elevated walkways, and intricate interior spaces—mobile LiDAR scanning was selected as the most efficient and minimally disruptive method for collecting spatial data. Handheld laser scanning systems were used to rapidly capture both interior and exterior environments, enabling survey teams to move through the site quickly without the need for stationary equipment setups.

The mobile scanning approach significantly accelerated the mapping process, allowing the entire facility and plaza to be documented in a matter of days rather than months. The captured LiDAR data was processed into a unified point cloud dataset, which served as the basis for creating a detailed Building Information Modeling (BIM) representation using Autodesk Revit. This digital model provides architects and planners with an accurate, high-resolution reference for evaluating structural conditions, planning renovations, and coordinating future construction activities.

The availability of a comprehensive 3D model also enabled project teams to continue planning work remotely during the pandemic, reducing the need for repeated site visits while maintaining design accuracy. By integrating advanced mobile LiDAR technology into the restoration workflow, the project demonstrates how modern geospatial data capture methods can support the preservation and modernization of historic civic infrastructure while minimizing operational disruption.