I'm still not thrilled with the exterior look, but I really like the design of the rink. It's very cool that they kept the balconies, even if they're smaller than what Matthews has. It's the sort of little touch that make the arena, and thus the Huskies, feel like a big deal, and it will still be unique among the other Hockey East rinks for having them. It looks like the type of arena that not only other NCAA programs, but also Canadian Major Junior teams, would be jealous of.
Northeastern University - Institutional Master Plan
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HelloBostonHi
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Northeastern unveils plans for a new multi-purpose athletics and recreation complex
The new state-of-the-art recreational and sports complex will open on the site of Matthews Arena in September 2028.news.northeastern.edu
Public announcement to the campus community. No time frame provided.
The arch at the entrance to Matthews will be preserved and incorporated inside the new building.
TomOfBoston
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The thumbnail mentions a completion date of 2028, but the article gives no time frame.
Speaking of completion dates, what is going on with the huge 840 Columbus residence hall to be built by ACC? it received final approval from the City of Boston almost a year ago, yet construction has not started?
Speaking of completion dates, what is going on with the huge 840 Columbus residence hall to be built by ACC? it received final approval from the City of Boston almost a year ago, yet construction has not started?
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I hope the acoustics of the inside are somehow considered. I want that place to be so, so raucous during hockey games.
stick n move
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I actually like the way they put the arch inside instead of just building a modern building around it and having the random old arch in the facade. It always comes out tacky.
What I'm hoping is this is a theme throughout the building - honoring Matthews' past and/or NEU/Boston history in some way. A nice touch would be some history incorporated into the lobby maybe?
4,050 seats for hockey and 5,300 for basketball. I have never been to watch either sport at Northeastern but I assume the hockey games must be more popular, right? It's a more competitive team overall, with legitimate national title aspirations compared to the basketball team.
4,050 is pretty small though. For instance BC sits 7,884, BU 6,150, and UML up to 6,500 at the Tsongas Arena. Harvard only fits 3,095 but isn't part of Hockey East.
Actually, here's a chart I just found for all the Hockey East Arenas with slightly different numbers given for BU (chart is partway down the link):
en.wikipedia.org
Since when is Holy Cross considered part of Hockey East? (EDIT: Looks like that's just for women's hockey)
4,050 is pretty small though. For instance BC sits 7,884, BU 6,150, and UML up to 6,500 at the Tsongas Arena. Harvard only fits 3,095 but isn't part of Hockey East.
Actually, here's a chart I just found for all the Hockey East Arenas with slightly different numbers given for BU (chart is partway down the link):
Hockey East - Wikipedia
Since when is Holy Cross considered part of Hockey East? (EDIT: Looks like that's just for women's hockey)
I think, like UConn, Providence, and Merrimack, there's not much of an appetite for this arena to hold many events outside of Northeastern sports. Agganis is bigger but it also holds concerts and other shows. In that sense, this building is right-sized.4,050 seats for hockey and 5,300 for basketball. I have never been to watch either sport at Northeastern but I assume the hockey games must be more popular, right? It's a more competitive team overall, with legitimate national title aspirations compared to the basketball team.
4,050 is pretty small though. For instance BC sits 7,884, BU 6,150, and UML up to 6,500 at the Tsongas Arena. Harvard only fits 3,095 but isn't part of Hockey East.
Actually, here's a chart I just found for all the Hockey East Arenas with slightly different numbers given for BU (chart is partway down the link):
Hockey East - Wikipedia
Since when is Holy Cross considered part of Hockey East? (EDIT: Looks like that's just for women's hockey)
View attachment 60755
Blackbird
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4,050 seats for hockey and 5,300 for basketball. I have never been to watch either sport at Northeastern but I assume the hockey games must be more popular, right? It's a more competitive team overall, with legitimate national title aspirations compared to the basketball team.
4,050 is pretty small though. For instance BC sits 7,884, BU 6,150, and UML up to 6,500 at the Tsongas Arena. Harvard only fits 3,095 but isn't part of Hockey East.
Actually, here's a chart I just found for all the Hockey East Arenas with slightly different numbers given for BU (chart is partway down the link):
Hockey East - Wikipedia
Since when is Holy Cross considered part of Hockey East? (EDIT: Looks like that's just for women's hockey)
View attachment 60755
It might be a limitation of the footprint. Current Matthew’s Arena has the rink and seats taking up most of the stretch between Mass Ave and Gainsborough with only a little bit on the Mass Ave side dedicated to concessions. Likewise, there’s maybe a little bit of room between the arena and St. Botolph but not a lot against the train tracks.
Without being able to increase the size of the building, it makes sense that they can’t increase capacity to match the stadiums at BC or BU.
As for basketball/hockey, the latter is more popular. I think the reason there’s more capacity for basketball games is that the school can fit extra rows of seating court-side with the rink covered.
This is my thinking - this might be the right size for hockey-specific events. Agganis and the Tsongas Center typically weren't filling up on game days a few years ago. And the basketball court having more seats is a symptom of the court size, likely not attendance demand.
Some additional massing renderings regarding upcoming housing projects (White Hall replacement and Burstein/Rubenstein replacement) and academic projects (Cabot and Science Quad) included in Apr 17 and May 01 presentations.
bpda.app.box.com
bpda.app.box.com
TL;DR: Welcome mats are the word of the day
2025-04-17_Presentation_Northeastern University IMP 2025-2035.pdf | Powered by Box
Slides from 4.17.25 Task Force Meeting
bpda.app.box.com
2025-05-01_Presentation_Northeastern University IMP 2025-2035.pdf | Powered by Box
Slide Deck from 5.1.25 Public Meeting
bpda.app.box.com
TL;DR: Welcome mats are the word of the day
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TomOfBoston
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Wait a minute! The IMP that was published last year showed Mugar and Cullinane demolished and Hurtig spared. Now it shows Hurtig and Cullinane demolished and Mugar spared and to be renovated? They have changed it!Some additional massing renderings regarding upcoming housing projects (White Hall replacement and Burstein/Rubenstein replacement) and academic projects (Cabot and Science Quad) included in Apr 17 and May 01 presentations.
2025-04-17_Presentation_Northeastern University IMP 2025-2035.pdf | Powered by Box
Slides from 4.17.25 Task Force Meeting
2025-05-01_Presentation_Northeastern University IMP 2025-2035.pdf | Powered by Box
Slide Deck from 5.1.25 Public Meeting
TL;DR: Welcome mats are the word of the day
TomOfBoston
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The old UR Complex: Nightingale, Holmes, Lake and Meserve Hall. Inside it is a rabbit warren of offices. Although I would hope that they would do a facadectomy for at least a portion of the complex.
Universities need places like that!
Czervik.Construction
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I loved that labyrinth and how the buildings were all sort of connected through those narrow halls with thin, cheap carpet on the floor. All my science profs were in the hulking Egan, Mugar, and Hurtig, while all my liberal arts profs were in the labyrinth. I distinctly remember coming in one door and getting lost and leaving somewhere else.
TomOfBoston
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The Burlington campus is not part of the IMP and almost never mentioned in this forum. But Northeastern just purchased a 109,000 sq. ft. BioLab building in Burlington, not far from the innovation Campus of which it will be a part. The previous owner bought the building from the developer in 2022 for $103 million. Northeastern purchased it from MetLife for $33 million. It is Filene's Basement time in the real estate market in Boston.
bostonrealestatetimes.com
Mystery Solved: Northeastern University Buys $33 Million Burlington BioCenter to Expand Research Hub - Boston Real Estate Times
BURLINGTON, MA — The mystery surrounding the recent sale of a prominent suburban life sciences facility has officially been solved. Northeastern University has been revealed as the buyer of the […]
bostonrealestatetimes.com
Czervik.Construction
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Ugh. I feel for the previous owner. 2022 was peak lab real estate. I remember looking for GLP lab space along 128 for an expansion of our footprint and just being floored by the per sq/ft asking prices for places in Woburn and Burlington. It was what Kendal was getting a few years earlier. We had to slow things down a bit since not only were things wildly expensive, it wasn't available. Now, you can get what you want at really good prices.