19 Dec 2025 Renovation of City Hall Annex at 26 Court Street is nearly complete!
With the removal of some fencing and construction detail, our fellow commuters to downtown may have noticed the ongoing renovation of 26 Court Street is finally nearing completion!
Historically called the Boston City Hall Annex, the gargantuan Neoclassical Revival building was constructed in 1912 and designed by architect Edward T.P. Graham. The land is believed to be the oldest plot continuously owned by the City of Boston. It was once the site of a 17th century jail that sat on what was historically known as Queen Street (today’s Court Street). The Queen Street Prison was immortalized in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, who published his novel down the street at the Old Corner Bookstore in 1850.
In 1836, a granite court house designed by Solomon Willard, architect of the Bunker Hill Monument, replaced the prison. In 1909, the building you see at 26 Court Street today was built.
The original plan to increase office space for the City was to tear down the Old City Hall on School Street and extend the new building from Court Street to School Street with a wing extending to Tremont Street. For reasons unknown this plan was not adopted and the City Hall Annex stopped before reaching the rear of the Old City Hall.
The renovation of 26 Court Street will provide offices for numerous City departments, but unlike City Hall, public access is limited. Still, it’s worth making a little detour to stop by and see the results of this fantastic renovation on your next commute into the office!
