Photo by James Sanna | Banker & Tradesman Staff
The hotel tower and public plaza of Samuels & Associates’ latest project, The Lyrik Back Bay, is now open at the foot of Newbury Street in Boston.
In that 15-story hotel tower is Dutch hotel chain CitizenM’s largest-ever hotel, a sibling to the company’s 2018 outpost above North Station and the third it’s opened this year.. The project’s office tower is slated to be anchored by automotive research and shopping company CarGurus and toy company Lego.
The 399-room hotel’s pod-style rooms look out on the Charles River Basin, on one side, and the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Fenway neighborhood on the other – the entire development sits on a deck bridging the turnpike and the MBTA’s Worcester Line commuter rail tracks. CitizenM’s longstanding Amsterdam-based architecture partner Concrete and Boston-based Elkus Manfredi Architects designed the development.
“We are thrilled to open the doors to our second Boston location, and what will be the largest hotel in our global portfolio,” CitizenM Chief Brand Officer Robin Chadha said in a statement. “Boston is known for its creative expression and captivating stories, and, likewise citizenM will spotlight locally-inspired works of art and exciting opening campaigns with Boston citizens at the forefront. The Back Bay neighborhood is a historic area, featuring delicious eateries and bustling small businesses – we are excited to become part of this community and the Lyrik development. With our curated selection of artwork, rooftop bar, and this prime location, citizenM Boston Back Bay will be the go-to spot for vibrant offerings and stunning city views.”
Each of the 399 rooms in the CitizenM Boston Back Bay hotel is designed in a “pod” style and comes with a king-sized, wall-to-wall bed and amenities like a rain shower designed to convey a feeling of “affordable luxury.” Photo courtesy of CitizenM
CitizenM’s eclectic interior design style is on full display at its Back Bay hotel’s coworking areas. As part of opening celebrations, the hotel’s common areas will also host an exhibition of larger-than-life photos honoring eight individuals native to Greater Boston. Photo courtesy of CitizenM
In addition to dedicated coworking spaces, the new CitizenM Back Bay will have a “canteen,” an open-plan dining area with “24/7 grab-and-go food,” the company said, plus a bar. Photo courtesy of CitizenM
In addition to a bar on the roof of the 15-story CitizenM Back Bay tower, one of the hotel’s common areas also opens onto a second-floor terrace that looks out on The Lyrik development’s public courtyard. Photo courtesy of CitizenM
The courtyard at Samuels & Associates’ new Lyrik development is filled with seating and gathering ares for the public, while along with its stores and restaurants forming a natural end point for the neighborhood’s famous Newbury Street shopping district. Photo by James Sanna | Banker & Tradesman Staff
The new CitizenM hotel is one half of Samuels & Associates’ Lyrik Back Bay development, built on a deck over the Massachusetts Turnpike and MBTA commuter rail tracks. Photo courtesy of CItizenM
