About this Location

Facility Overview

The 84 Athenaeum St Garage (also known as the 245 First Street Garage) is an eight-story, fully covered multi-level parking facility nestled in the vibrant East Cambridge and Kendall Square innovation district. Seamlessly integrated into the prominent 245 First Street commercial and life sciences campus, the garage provides 351 sheltered parking stalls designed to accommodate daily commuters, research professionals, and city visitors alike. The facility is operated by LAZ Parking and features automated gated entry lanes along with periodic valet-assist parking during peak business periods. Standard sedans, crossovers, station wagons, minivans, and mid-size SUVs can park comfortably across its multi-tiered decks. However, drivers should be aware of a strict vertical clearance limit of 6 feet 4 inches (6'4"), which prevents access for high-roof commercial vans, raised pickup trucks, and vehicles carrying oversized rooftop cargo or bicycles.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Situated in the heart of one of the world's premier technological and academic hubs, this garage puts visitors within effortless walking distance of premier corporate offices, educational campuses, and scenic waterfront parks. Just two blocks east lies the Broad Canal and Charles River Basin, granting quick pedestrian access to the Charles Park public docks and the seasonal Skate @ Canal District Kendall ice rink. Academic and cultural destinations such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus, Killian Court, the MIT Media Lab, and the MIT Museum are situated within an easy 5 to 10-minute stroll. Popular retail and dining centers—including the CambridgeSide shopping mall (0.4 miles away) and buzzing Kendall Square eateries such as Glass House and Area Four—are reachable in under 8 minutes on foot. The facility also serves as a strategic parking gateway for events at the Museum of Science (0.5 miles) and TD Garden in downtown Boston, located roughly 1.2 miles away across the Charles River.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicle ingress and egress is situated along the south side of Athenaeum Street, positioned between First Street and Second Street. Drivers can seamlessly transition to key regional thoroughfares, including Edwin H. Land Boulevard (Route 28), Monsignor O'Brien Highway, and Memorial Drive (Route 3) along the Charles River waterfront. The Longfellow Bridge provides a direct, five-minute vehicular artery into central Boston and the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) medical district, while Land Boulevard offers expedited access north toward Interstate 93 (I-93). For multi-modal commuters, the garage is an exceptional park-and-ride hub: the Kendall/MIT subway station on the MBTA Red Line is a brisk 6-minute walk southwest, while the newly modernized Lechmere Station on the Green Line sits approximately 10 minutes to the north. Multiple local bus routes (including routes 64, 68, and 85) and the private EZRide Kendall shuttle stop within two blocks.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Eight stories of sheltered, weather-protected indoor parking
Four dedicated Level 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations situated on the 3rd floor
Contactless, 100% cashless payment terminals accepting major credit cards and digital validations
Seamless integration with mobile reservation platforms, including SpotHero and ParkWhiz
Active 24/7 closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance and 24-hour building security personnel
Clearly marked ADA-compliant accessible parking stalls adjacent to passenger elevators
On-site LAZ Parking attendants and valet management on peak overflow weekdays
Internal elevator and stairwell access connecting directly into the 245 First Street complex

Ideal For

Corporate professionals and researchers working in Kendall Square, Biogen, and the 245 First Street tech complex
MIT campus visitors, prospective students, and attendees of university conferences or commencement ceremonies
Diners and shoppers visiting Kendall Square restaurants, Canal District venues, or CambridgeSide mall
Recreation seekers spending time along the Broad Canal, Charles River Esplanade, or Museum of Science
Eventgoers looking for a convenient, secure Cambridge parking base before hopping on the Red Line into Downtown Boston

Visitor & Driver Tips

When entering the garage, note that this is a strictly cashless operation; keep a major credit card or digital wallet handy for exit payments if you did not pre-book. If using SpotHero or ParkWhiz, hold your digital QR pass roughly two to three inches from the red flashing optical scanner at the barrier arm to prompt automatic gate opening. Drive-up hourly parking rates in Kendall Square can fluctuate rapidly during major conferences or academic events, so reserving a spot online ahead of time is highly recommended to secure the best rates. Drivers traveling in full-size SUVs or trucks should verify that their vehicle height does not exceed the 6-foot-4-inch clearance bar before entering the ramp. Lastly, be mindful of Athenaeum Street's one-way lane segments and pedestrian crosswalks, especially during morning and evening rush hours when local foot traffic between Kendall Square tech campuses is at its peak.