Huntington Begins East Wing Expansion in Boston
Construction on a 14,000-square-foot addition to the Boston theatre is underway, financed by a $21.251 million tax-exempt bond.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Construction
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The Huntington theatre has begun construction of its East Wing expansion in Boston, alongside its historic location on Ave. of the Arts. MassDevelopment issued a $21.251 million tax-exempt bond to support the project, which Beacon Bank underwrote and purchased.
Why it matters
The expansion adds flexible performance space and public amenities to one of Boston's established theatre venues. The financing package, which includes additional lending totaling over $15 million, shows how tax-exempt bonds and bank lending are being combined to fund cultural construction in the city.
The East Wing is financed by a $21.251 million tax-exempt bond issued by MassDevelopment, with over $15 million in additional lending components layered into the package. The project occupies 14,000 square feet, but the full construction cost beyond the disclosed financing was not reported.
The players
The Huntington
The Huntington is a Boston theatre company whose historic home sits on Ave. of the Arts and which is now expanding with the East Wing.
Beacon Bank
Beacon Bank is a financial institution that underwrote and purchased the tax-exempt bond financing the East Wing through its Boston Institutional Banking Group.
MassDevelopment
MassDevelopment is the Massachusetts state economic development agency that issued the $21.251 million tax-exempt bond for the project.
The details
The East Wing occupies 14,000 square feet on the first two floors of the Toll Brothers residential tower adjacent to the theatre. It will include flexible performance spaces, a bar, lounge and cafe, and an outdoor balcony overlooking Huntington Ave.
Timeline
Fall 2027: Expected opening of The Huntington's East Wing.
Construction
The East Wing relies on the MassDevelopment tax-exempt bond channel, which Massachusetts nonprofits have used to finance facility construction, and this project extends that pattern to a Boston performing arts venue.
Theatregoers in Boston can expect the expanded venue to add flexible performance space and a cafe and bar when the East Wing opens in fall 2027. The project's added space is aimed at giving the theatre more room for programming beyond its existing mainstage.
The takeaway
Projects like the Huntington East Wing show that combining public tax-exempt bond financing with private bank lending is one practical way cultural institutions fund physical expansion. Readers following Boston's development can watch the fall 2027 opening as a marker of how these financing structures perform in practice.
Further reading
Explore more Boston construction coverage on how major projects are being financed and built across the city.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nerej.
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