Suffolk identified as the Contractor of Record for the CITGO Sign Repositioning Project completing Boston’s 660 Beacon Street Redevelopment
Boston, MA – October 15, 2025 – The final phase of the Kenmore Square Redevelopment at 660 Beacon Street, the planned repositioning and restoration of the iconic CITGO Sign, a defining feature of the Boston skyline for more than 60 years, is now underway. The approved location of “Boston’s Sign” on the roof of 660 Beacon Street, as outlined and endorsed under PDA #121, has already been prepared to receive the structure. The Sign will be positioned 30 feet higher and 120 feet to the east to restore and preserve the original viewshed corridor, ensuring it can be enjoyed by the public from its permanent home in Kenmore Square.
Originally installed in 1940 as the Cities Service Sign and reinstalled in 1965 as part of the introduction of the CITGO marketing brand, the CITGO Sign has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the City of Boston. For generations of runners, the CITGO Sign has been a beacon marking the final mile of the annual Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America.
“Whether it’s fans going to Fenway for a Red Sox game, marathon participants on their final stretch of the race going through Kenmore Square, students walking along Commonwealth Avenue, or tourists coming to check out all that this great city has to offer, the CITGO Sign has long served as an iconic landmark for Boston residents and visitors of Boston,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This repositioning will ensure that the CITGO Sign remains visible in our skyline for generations to come. Our administration was proud to support this effort, and we appreciate everyone coming together to make this possible.”
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) have formally included the CITGO Sign on the inventory list of signs lawfully in existence prior to the adoption of the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, ensuring that the Sign can now be properly restored and preserved for future generations.
“The CITGO Sign is a beloved treasure for Kenmore Square and residents across Boston,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m thrilled and grateful that so many partners came together to preserve this iconic Sign for generations to come.”
“The CITGO Sign has long stood as a visual and cultural anchor for Kenmore Square and the City of Boston,” said Karl Schmidt, Vice President, Supply and Marketing at CITGO Petroleum. “With the federal and state exemptions in hand, CITGO is thrilled to take this final step in the redevelopment process of this iconic site, ensuring that our beloved CITGO Sign will continue to illuminate Kenmore Square and the City of Boston skyline for many generations to come.”
The repositioning effort will restore the CITGO Sign to its original view corridors, maintaining its iconic presence over the Boston skyline. The project will include construction of a new truss structure built into the existing anchor platform which is built into the core and roof of 660 Beacon Street. While the Sign’s overall height and dimensions will remain the same, the identified location will reestablish the original lines of sight that have defined the Sign’s visual impact on Kenmore Square and Boston’s view corridor sightlines since its installation as contemplated in the City’s review and approval of the larger Kenmore Square Development project through the Article 80 process.
"CITGO may think of this as their Sign, but in Boston, we think of it as ours,” said Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan, who represents Kenmore Square. "This repositioning makes a bright future for the Sign to continue to shine as the beacon of Kenmore Square."
“The CITGO Sign has long stood as both a beacon of Kenmore Square and a beloved symbol of Boston,” said Pam Beale, President of the Kenmore Square Business Association, and owner of Cornwalls. “This milestone is about more than preserving an iconic Sign - it reflects a shared commitment to the future of our neighborhood. We’re proud to see this final phase move forward, ensuring the Sign remains a source of pride and connection for our vibrant Kenmore Square community.”
Suffolk has been selected as the contractor of record for the project. Work is anticipated to begin in the near future. The Project team will coordinate closely with all stakeholders to minimize the amount of time the Sign is required to remain unlit during the restoration process.
“As a national company founded in Boston, we understand the cultural significance of the CITGO Sign and what it represents for Bostonians and visitors to our world-class city,” said John Fish, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Suffolk. “This project is unique because it will allow us to combine the past with the future—we will leverage the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art technologies, tools and data to ensure this historic Sign remains a defining part of Boston’s skyline for generations to come.”
ABOUT CITGO
CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a recognized leader in the refining industry and operates under the well-known CITGO brand. CITGO owns and operates three refineries located in Lake Charles, La.; Lemont, Ill.; and Corpus Christi, Texas, and wholly and/or jointly owns 42 active terminals, eight pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants. With approximately 3,300 employees and a combined crude capacity of approximately 807,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), CITGO ranks as the fifth largest, and is one of the most complex, independent refiners in the United States. CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products, and supplies a network of approximately 4,000 locally owned and independently operated branded retail outlets, all located east of the Rocky Mountains. CITGO Petroleum Corporation is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc.
ABOUT SUFFOLK
Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates and invests. Suffolk is an end-to-end business that provides value throughout the entire project lifecycle by leveraging its core construction management services with vertical service lines that include real estate capital investment, design, self-perform construction services, technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies) and innovation research/development.
Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $8 billion in annual revenue, 3,000 employees, and offices in Boston (headquarters); New York City and Westchester County, New York; Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, and Estero in Florida; Dallas; Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego; Las Vegas; Portland, Maine; New Haven, Connecticut; Herndon, Virginia; and Salt Lake City.
Suffolk manages some of the most complex, sophisticated projects in the country, serving clients in every major industry sector, including healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, transportation/aviation, federal government and public work, mission critical, advanced technology and commercial. Suffolk is privately held and is led by Founder, Chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR’s list of “Largest Domestic Builders” and #10 on its list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.