Enterprise Research Campus (ERC)* Phase 1 Enabling Infrastructure Work
Enabling work continues at the parcel of the future Enterprise Research Campus (ERC) in Allston across from Harvard Business School bordered by the Mass Pike, Western Avenue, Hague Street, and the National Resilience Inc. facility at 500 Soldiers Field Road. Much of the project work, which will continue through this year, involves underground investigations, pre-clearing, trenching, and utility pipes/conduit/utility structure installations. Construction activities will continue through 2024 for the construction of streetscape elements and completion of roadways.
Foundation work on four new buildings and an underground parking structure will be the first phase of the Developer construction work, which is currently scheduled for early 2023.
- As the project progresses, there will be an uptick in truck traffic on Western Ave during project work hours, typically 7AM to 3PM Monday through Friday. Trucks will follow approved truck routes to/from the jobsite to ensure they are not traveling on neighborhood streets.
- Crews will be prepping and paving Trotting Avenue (former Cattle Drive) inside the ERC site and asphalt patching an area on Windom Street.
- Sheet pile driving will take place for the first part of the month to build an underground drainage storage facility.
- A new interim driveway has been installed to Harvard’s District Energy Facility (DEF) and is now operational.
- Construction noise will continue during work hours.
North Allston Storm Drain Extension Project (NASDEP)
The NASDEP is a project for the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) that is designed in collaboration with Harvard University to alleviate the inundated existing storm water systems in the North Allston neighborhood. The proposed modifications to the BWSC stormwater management system will significantly improve its performance by providing much needed additional conveyance capacity. The enabling work for the project began in 2021 and once permitted will continue through 2024. The increased capacity systems are designed to extend from the area south of the new Science and Engineering Complex (SEC), connecting to an existing stormwater drain system in Rena Park, routing through the ERC and following behind the National Resilience Inc. (formerly Sanofi/Genzyme) facility before crossing Soldiers Field Road to an outfall in the Charles River.
A crane is being used to install 84-inch diameter concrete drainage pipe sections into a stone-lined trench behind the DEF. Manhole structures are being placed prior to the installation of more pipe. Sheet piles and other piles have been installed near National Resilience to support other underground structures in advance of a National Grid gas relocation at 500 Soldiers Field Road.
- Activity on-site is ongoing and in accordance with access and monitoring protocols.
- Truck traffic to and from the site continues using the designated route from Hague Street.
- Noise will continue to be intermittent.
Kresge Way Temporary Relocation
As part of Harvard’s infrastructure improvements in Allston, the University is relocating utilities across Western Avenue, over to and on Kresge Way, the main driveway into the HBS campus. In July, a temporary drive to Kresge Way opened to the west of the existing drive. Traffic relocated to this interim drive during the utility crossing work on Western Avenue.
Western Avenue Utility Crossing
A utility crossing at Western Avenue is underway and will allow for expansion of the Harvard’s Allston energy infrastructure. The work is expected to be complete next spring and will allow for improvements to Harvard’s Allston energy infrastructure.
Supporting vehicular, cycling and pedestrian flow, a phased approach is being used to install hot water and chilled water supply and return piping, telecommunications and electrical duct banks across the width of Western Ave. The construction activity consists of six phases to excavate two trenches the width of Western Avenue. Only a third of the roadway will be a construction zone allowing for two, open vehicular traffic lanes at all times, one in each direction.
- A detailed traffic management plan is in place always maintaining two lanes of traffic. Pedestrians have been rerouted to the sidewalk adjacent to Kresge Way and the Harvard Business School lot. The sidewalk closest to the ERC site will remain open this month.
- Crews are fusing the thermal pipes together inside the ERC site and will be installing them.
- Duct bank installation will take place after the thermals are installed.
- Appropriate signage and police details will be in place.
- During project hours 7AM to 3PM (at times may extend to 6PM), the work will generate intermittent noise due to the presence of work crews and the use of construction equipment including a vacuum truck and drill rig needed to perform this work.
- Saturday work will take place this month.
DEF Thermal and Electrical Duct Bank Installation
- Pipe fusion in preparation for connection work under the future Milestone Street (formerly East Drive) to the future Treehouse Conference Center behind the construction fence at the Enterprise Research Campus (ERC) has taken place.
- All are working in coordination with National Resilience.
- An interim access drive to the DEF has been installed and is operational.
114 Western Avenue 3rd Floor Office Fit Out
Harvard Real Estate has crews working on an office fit-out project on the 3rd floor this fall.
Through November, 114 Western Ave occupants, students and businesses can expect the presence of work crews, as well as construction equipment and activity, Monday through Friday from 6AM to 2PM.
- Some earlier start times, extended hours, and Saturday work – may be necessary. During these hours, the renovation of the workspace will generate some noise due to deliveries, loading materials, as well as the use of construction equipment/tools.
- Work will be coordinated to minimize impacts to the childcare facility and 2nd floor classrooms.
- The contractor has fenced-in three parking spaces in the 114 Western parking lot for materials laydown space.
- Lifts will be used to load equipment to the 3rd floor.
South Campus Drive Utility Work
A South Campus Drive diversion temporary roadway has opened while crews install utilities (thermal and ductbank) near the McCurdy Track. Vehicular, cycling and pedestrian has shifted from the new work zone and will be maintained throughout the work activity into spring 2023.
- Ductbank installation continues adjacent to the track. The athletics fence will be restored. And the excavation activities and ductbank installation will cross South Campus Drive this month.
- The work will generate intermittent noise due to the presence of work crews and the use of construction equipment including excavators, and a possible vacuum truck needed to perform this work.
- Work hours will be Monday through Friday, 7AM to 3PM with intermittent coordinated Saturday work.
- A Harvard police detail will be directing traffic.