SoWa Power Station
SoWa Power Station is a Boston event venue housed in a restored 1891 power plant, offering 32,000 sq ft of flexible space for corporate events, non-profit galas, weddings, social celebrations, and ticketed immersive exhibitions. Operated by GTI Properties.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What SoWa Power Station does
SoWa Power Station is a private event venue operated by GTI Properties at 550 Harrison Avenue in Boston's SoWa arts district. Housed in the historic Central Power Station — originally built in 1891 as the world's largest power generating plant to power the West End Street Railway — the venue offers more than 32,000 square feet of flexible event space across two stories: a 24,600 sq ft Main Floor with 60-foot vaulted ceilings and a 4,000 sq ft Mezzanine with views overlooking the main space. Capacity is up to 1,500 reception or 1,050 seated guests on the Main Floor, and 250 reception or 125 seated on the Mezzanine. The building retains original industrial architectural features (steel truss construction, two-foot thick brick walls) alongside modern renovations including 20-foot paned glass, French doors, and updated electrical/plumbing.
The business serves four primary customer segments: corporate organizations (conferences, product launches, fireside chats), non-profits (galas and fundraisers), wedding couples, and social event hosts (birthdays, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, holiday parties). Revenue is generated through venue rental fees for private events, ticketed immersive public exhibitions (including Imagine Van Gogh and Beyond King Tut), bar services, on-site parking, and a preferred caterer referral network comprising six vetted Boston-area catering partners. Bookings are managed via the Tripleseat private event software platform, with prospective clients reaching Private Events Managers through the website, phone, or email. Distribution is regional (Northeast US), supported by referral relationships with established event planners (Rafanelli Events, Tali Yaacobi, Tyger Productions) and a PartySlate Best of Boston - Unique Wedding Venues 2023 designation. SoWa Power Station is privately held under GTI Properties, which acquired the structure from the MBTA in 1999 and completed extensive renovations between 2018 and 2021 before opening the venue.
SoWa Power Station firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SoWa Power Station
- Legal name
- SoWa Power Station
- Website
- https://sowapowerstation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SoWa Power Station is a Boston event venue housed in a restored 1891 power plant, offering 32,000 sq ft of flexible space for corporate events, non-profit galas, weddings, social celebrations, and ticketed immersive exhibitions. Operated by GTI Properties.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SoWa Power Station industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Venue Services
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Convention & Exhibition Center Operations (Expo Halls, Trade Show Venues) (MPAGALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Multi-Purpose Event Halls & Community Centers (THAHAAAI)
Keywords
Where SoWa Power Station is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SoWa Power Station business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Event Space Rental: Rental fees for private event bookings including corporate events, weddings, non-profit galas, and social celebrations. Revenue generated through hourly/daily venue rental charges, with additional revenue streams from bar services, catering coordination with preferred vendors, and parking services.
- Ticketed Public Exhibitions: Hosting ticketed immersive exhibitions like Imagine Van Gogh and Beyond King Tut, drawing public visitors to the venue.
- Ancillary Services: Revenue from bar services, parking, and vendor referrals including equipment rentals (scissor lift, forklift, dumpster).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
SoWa Power Station product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SoWa Power Station rents out a restored 1891 historic industrial building as a premier event venue in Boston, offering two flexible event spaces totaling over 30,000 square feet. The venue serves corporate events, non-profit galas, weddings, and social celebrations, and additionally hosts ticketed public immersive exhibitions such as Imagine Van Gogh and Beyond King Tut. Supporting services include bar packages, parking, and coordination with a curated network of preferred caterers and event vendors.
Product overview
SoWa Power Station is an iconic event venue offering two primary event spaces: the Main Floor (24,600 sq ft with 60-foot vaulted ceilings, capacity 1,050 seated/1,500 reception) and the Mezzanine (4,000 sq ft, capacity 125 seated/250 reception), together spanning over 30,000 square feet. The venue hosts both private events (corporate, non-profit, weddings, social) and ticketed immersive exhibitions like Imagine Van Gogh and Beyond King Tut. Additional services include bar services and a preferred caterers program with vetted Boston-area catering partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Main Floor Event Space The primary event space featuring 24,600 square feet of open-concept space with 60-foot vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, concrete floors, and original tile work. Capacity of 1,050 seated or 1,500 reception guests, suitable for corporate events, weddings, social events, and large conferences.
- Mezzanine Event Space The second floor event space featuring two rooms connected by a rotunda with views overlooking the Main Floor. Offers 4,000 square feet with capacity for 125 seated or 250 reception guests, ideal for intimate gatherings, private dinners, meetings, or office parties, and combinable with the Main Floor for venue buyouts.
- Imagine Van Gogh Immersive Exhibition An immersive art exhibition featuring over 200 of Van Gogh's paintings displayed using advanced multi-projection and immersive audio techniques, created by Annabelle Mauger and Julien Baron. Surrounds viewers with the artist's works painted between 1888 and 1890 and is sold as a ticketed public event.
- Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience An immersive Egyptian-themed exhibition that brings ancient history to life, allowing visitors to experience wonders like the Temple at Karnak, the Great Sphinx, and the Pyramids of Giza. The exhibition travels back 3,000 years to the 18th dynasty and includes a descent into King Tut's tomb, sold as a ticketed public event.
- Bar Services A beverage service offering a variety of curated and customizable beverage packages to fit specific event needs at the venue.
- Preferred Caterers Program A curated list of premier caterers in the Boston area including The Catered Affair, MAX Ultimate Food, Gourmet Caterers, Gourmet Catering by Andrew, Capers Catering, and East Meets West Catering, providing exceptional service from proposal preparation through event execution for SoWa Power Station clients.
Companies that use SoWa Power Station
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
SoWa Power Station technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
SoWa Power Station partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, preferred and minor.
- GTI PropertiescoreGTI Properties acquired the historic Central Power Station property in 1999 and undertook extensive renovations from 2018-2021, transforming it into the SoWa Power Station event venue. GTI Properties continues as owner/operator of the venue and related SoWa district properties.
- SoWa BostoncoreSoWa Power Station is part of the broader SoWa Boston ecosystem, which includes SoWa Open Market, SoWa Health + Wellness, and various retail and creative businesses in the South Boston district.
- The Catered AffairpreferredPreferred catering partner working with SoWa Power Station clients for event food and beverage service.
- Max Ultimate FoodpreferredPremier preferred catering partner providing exceptional event catering services at the venue.
- Gourmet CatererspreferredPreferred catering partner for SoWa Power Station events.
- Gourmet Catering by AndrewpreferredPreferred catering partner serving SoWa Power Station clients.
- Capers CateringpreferredPreferred catering partner at SoWa Power Station.
- East Meets West CateringpreferredPreferred catering partner offering diverse cuisine options for events.
- ImaginerieminorProduced the Imagine Van Gogh immersive exhibition at SoWa Power Station, featuring over 200 Van Gogh paintings using multi-projection and immersive audio techniques by Annabelle Mauger and Julien Baron.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
SoWa Power Station competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pier Sixty: Manhattan event venue operated by The Lia Group, hosting high-end weddings, galas, and corporate events. Comparable as a large-format, flexible-amenity private-event venue with a flagship-location identity.
- Industry City: Brooklyn waterfront creative complex with multiple large event spaces, food halls, and ticketed exhibitions. Comparable through repurposed-industrial architecture, flexible event-space rental, and ticketed public-event activations.
- The State Room: Large-format Boston event venue hosting weddings, galas, and corporate events. Closely comparable to SoWa Power Station in scale, full-service private-event positioning, and Boston downtown metro market.
- Metropolitan Pavilion: Chelsea (NYC) event venue offering large-format spaces for corporate events, weddings, and immersive exhibitions. Comparable in scale, caterer-driven model, and use as an immersive-art exhibition host.
- The Liberty Hotel: Boston hotel and event venue inside a historic former jail, offering flexible upscale private event spaces. Comparable through historic architecture, large event halls, and corporate/wedding positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Boston Convention & Exhibition Center: Largest convention and exhibition facility in Boston/New England, hosting trade shows and conferences. Comparable on the exhibition and convention side but operates as a large-scale MICE broad incumbent rather than an intimate private-event venue.
- Museum of Science, Boston: Boston cultural institution hosting ticketed exhibits and event rentals. Comparable as a ticketed-public-exhibition venue host in the Boston market, though with a mission-driven museum scope.
- Fairmont Copley Plaza: Boston luxury hotel with a flagship ballroom hosting upscale weddings, corporate galas, and social events. Comparable as a high-end Boston event venue, though operating as a hotel-anchored broad incumbent rather than a standalone space.
Regional players
- The Innovation and Design Building: Adjacent SoWa Boston building hosting markets and large-scale events. Comparable as a competing industrial-style Boston event venue in close geographic proximity, though with a different tenant base.
Emerging players
- ARTECHOUSE: Immersive-art exhibition producer and venue operator with locations in DC, NYC, Miami, and Houston. Comparable on the ticketed immersive-exhibition revenue stream that SoWa Power Station has activated with Imagine Van Gogh and Beyond King Tut.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SoWa Power Station social profiles
Digital presenceSoWa Power Station financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SoWa Power Station leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SoWa Power Station funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SoWa Power Station M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SoWa Power Station
What does SoWa Power Station do?
SoWa Power Station rents out a restored 1891 historic industrial building as a premier event venue in Boston, offering two flexible event spaces totaling over 30,000 square feet. The venue serves corporate events, non-profit galas, weddings, and social celebrations, and additionally hosts ticketed public immersive exhibitions such as Imagine Van Gogh and Beyond King Tut. Supporting services include bar packages, parking, and coordination with a curated network of preferred caterers and event vendors.
Is SoWa Power Station a public or private company?
SoWa Power Station is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SoWa Power Station founded?
SoWa Power Station was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SoWa Power Station based?
SoWa Power Station is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does SoWa Power Station make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Event Space Rental is the primary driver. The others are ticketed Public Exhibitions and ancillary Services.
Who are SoWa Power Station's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pier Sixty, Industry City, The State Room, Metropolitan Pavilion and The Liberty Hotel. Broad incumbents are Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Museum of Science, Boston and Fairmont Copley Plaza. The Innovation and Design Building is listed as a regional player. ARTECHOUSE is listed as an emerging player.
Does SoWa Power Station have an API?
No public API is recorded for SoWa Power Station.
What industry is SoWa Power Station in?
SoWa Power Station's product category is Event Venue Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGALAD, Convention & Exhibition Center Operations (Expo Halls, Trade Show Venues), with a secondary code of THAHAAAI, Multi-Purpose Event Halls & Community Centers. Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 7990.