The John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center is a convention center located in Boston, Massachusetts. It was built in 1988 from a design by architects Kallmann, McKinnell & Wood. It replaced the John B. Hynes Memorial Auditorium, also a convention center, built in 1963 during the Massachusetts Turnpike expansion from Route 128 to the Central Artery, which was regarded as "ungainly". The 1988 design "attempted to relate in scale and materials to its Back Bay setting, adopting granite and setbacks. The severe gray interior is reminiscent of an early 20th-century German railroad station". The Center is named after former Boston mayor John Hynes.

Function as meeting space

Physical characteristics

The building has 176480 sqft of exhibit space and can accommodate up to four concurrent events. It features 91000 sqft of meeting space with 38 permanent rooms and a 24544 sqft grand ballroom.

Notable past events

Location

The convention center is connected to the nearby Prudential Center complex.

Transportation

The convention center is connected by aerial passageways to a nearby hotel complex and can be reached by public transportation via the Hynes Convention Center station on the MBTA Green Line and, using the passageways, via the Back Bay station on the Orange Line, Commuter Rail, and Amtrak. Logan Express shuttles run directly to and from Logan International Airport.

Nearby hotels

Closure and redevelopment

On September 16, 2019, Governor Charlie Baker announced his plans to close and sell the Hynes to finance an expansion at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

Gallery