The Sheraton Boston Hotel has anchored the city’s hospitality and meetings scene since 1965, but a sweeping renovation has repositioned the 29-story, 809-room property for a new era—without disrupting its role as one of Boston’s largest and busiest hotels. Led by Columbia, the multiphase project touched nearly every aspect of the building, from guestrooms and public spaces to meeting rooms and critical mechanical infrastructure, all while the hotel remained occupied.
The scope was intentionally comprehensive. In addition to cosmetic upgrades, the renovation addressed aging systems throughout the building. “Upgrades of mechanical systems were another key part of the project,” said Peter Mancini, senior project manager, Columbia, noting that plumbing infrastructure such as risers, vents and equipment serving most of the bathrooms was replaced during construction. The project also returned 17 former offices to their original use as guestrooms, expanding the hotel’s inventory.
Guestroom bathrooms were among the most intensive areas of work. “Every guestroom bathroom had to be gutted,” said Mancini, who noted that the project took a year and a half to complete. “In 75% of the rooms, existing tubs were removed and replaced with walk-in showers.” New finishes, plumbing and lighting fixtures were installed throughout, along with the delivery and installation of all-new furniture.
Working within a nearly 60-year-old building introduced challenges that required careful planning. “The hotel was built just previous to the adoption of more modern construction approaches,” Mancini said, pointing to the difficulty of tying new systems into existing plaster walls and ceilings. Opening walls during the renovation, however, created opportunities to modernize infrastructure that would otherwise remain hidden.
To minimize surprises, Columbia began evaluating conditions months before construction started. “We knew from experience that working in older buildings can often lead to unexpected existing conditions,” Mancini said. Field teams measured every guestroom bathroom in advance to ensure a precise fit for new components. “We determined that at least six differently sized shower pans would be required and vanities would need to be precut to fit,” he said. “We were able to order everything ahead of time and knew exactly what size belonged in each guestroom.”
The renovation required tight coordination with hotel staff. “The hotel was occupied at all times on floors above and below the areas of construction,” Mancini said. Typically, about eight floors were under renovation at a time, with work progressing downward from the top of the building. Water shutdowns were carefully coordinated, and noisy work was limited to later morning hours to protect guests.
The Sheraton’s expansive meeting and ballroom spaces added another layer of complexity. “To ensure that the hotel’s existing ballroom and meeting room rentals would be honored, we scheduled our work around them,” Mancini said. Spaces were prepped for events even as construction continued elsewhere, allowing the hotel to maintain its group business throughout the project.
Visually, the most dramatic transformation occurred in the lobby. “The redesign included demolition of an existing raised floor, installation of new tile and stone flooring, updated check-in desks, a new bar and a dedicated club lounge for VIP guests,” he said. New chandeliers and light fixtures elevate the space, while a mirrored ceiling above the bar creates a striking focal point. “The mirrored ceiling was meticulously designed and positioned to accommodate sprinkler and lighting systems,” he added.
