Harvard Square’s ‘The Pit’ Demolished to Make Way for Revitalized Kiosk, Plaza
A longtime landmark in Harvard Square has been demolished. “The Pit,” a recessed stone and brick seating area adjacent to the Red Line MBTA station, has been removed as part…
CAMBRIDGE, MA – JULY 30: People pass by the landmark Out Of Town News July 30, 2009 in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard Square is a large triangular area located in the heart of Cambridge and adjacent to Harvard University, and is frequented by tens of thousands of tourists a year, and home to thousand of students with MIT University just down the road. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
A longtime landmark in Harvard Square has been demolished. "The Pit," a recessed stone and brick seating area adjacent to the Red Line MBTA station, has been removed as part of a multi-year, $8.6 million effort to redesign the Harvard Square kiosk and plaza.
According to a CBS Boston report, the kiosk was originally built as an entrance to Harvard Square's subway station in 1927. In 1983, it became the Out of Town News stand, selling newspapers and magazines from around the world before closing in 2019.
The area eventually became unattractive, and it was fenced in for years. Construction delays attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and preservation of the landmark kiosk building have extended the project timeline.
A renovated kiosk will open within the next several months. According to plans, the kiosk's interior will function as a flexible space to accommodate various uses. The space will serve as a visitor information destination with exhibits focused on Cambridge's history and space for news, brochures, and other community literature.
Project plans have moved away from the plaza's once-familiar circular pit. A new above-grade design will offer seating amid plantings of shade trees to create an inviting aesthetic. This design will also allow the plaza to transform into a community gathering space with areas for art installations, family activities, demonstrations, and outdoor markets.
Construction work is estimated to take at least two more years to complete the Harvard Square redesign project.
