Enterprise Research Campus Phase A
Development work is underway of the future Enterprise Research Campus (ERC) in Allston across from Harvard Business School (HBS) bordered by the Mass Pike, Western Avenue, Hague Street, and the National Resilience Inc. facility at 500 Soldiers Field Road. Phase A will consist of two lab buildings designed for research and development; an apartment building with roughly 345 units, including approximately 86 affordable units (25%) available to households with incomes ranging from 30-100% of the Area Median Income (AMI); a hotel; and a conference center operated by Harvard University. The Greenway will be central to the site and become an active public space with programming and events.
Residential/Hotel
Sheeting for the foundation has been installed and bulk excavation of the site is underway. Bulk excavation will continue this month. Crews will mobilize concrete operations in preparation to begin placing concrete. This operation will slowly increase as excavation progresses. On the south side, a pad is being constructed for the first of two site tower cranes to be installed later in October.
Laboratory and Office Buildings
Sheet and secant piles for the foundation have been installed. Cross bracing work will be completed by mid-September. Bulk excavation of the site is underway and will continue through the month.
Greenway
This section of the site is currently being used for laydown space until crews mobilize in the coming months.
Treehouse Conference Center
Fencing will be extended on Saturday, September 9th beyond the Western Avenue sidewalk with a barriered walkway and bike path installed. Crews will be preparing to mobilize operations of this site bordering Western Ave and Milestone Street in September. Necessary construction equipment will be brought on site to begin excavation of the foundation for the future conference center.
Building Mock-Ups
Construction continues on the first two of the five mock-ups, which assist in evaluating design and constructability. These two mockups will be completed in October. The mock-ups will remain on site for the duration of the projects.
- There will continue to be increased truck traffic on Western Ave during project work hours, typically 7AM to 3PM Monday through Friday. Some truck lining activities may begin at 6:30AM.
- Saturday work is targeted to take place this month with a 9AM start.
- No weekend work will take place Labor Day weekend (9/2)
- Occasional off-hour equipment drop offs/pickups may be necessary with no unloading until 7AM. Also, wide load equipment may be delivered early in the morning.
- Contractors and subcontractors are directed to have all trucks follow approved truck routes to/from the jobsite to ensure they are not traveling on neighborhood streets. A security officer has been monitoring truck routes at Cambridge and Windom streets.
- Construction noise will continue during work hours.
- Truck wheel wash stations are operational with wheel wells being washed before exiting the site.
- Dust control measures remain in place.
Harvard’s District Energy Facility (DEF)
The 12 Western Avenue driveway to Harvard’s District Energy Facility (DEF) remains on Milestone Street.
- Nitrogen layup work is expected to take place in September.
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 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.
Concrete drainage pipes (84-inch and 48-inch diameter) have been placed between manhole structures behind the DEF and off Trotting Avenue. 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.
- Work will start on the next portion of NASDEP near Science Drive and Hague Street beginning with installation of a manhole structure and box culvert drainage sections in September.
- Structures are being put in place near the NASDEP stormwater storage area.
- 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.
- Dust control measures are in place.
Railyard Improvements
- Use of two rail sidings at the former Beacon Park Yards facility has been approved by MBTA, CSX and Keolis. Its use will help limit future trucking activity on nearby roadways.
- Rehabilitation of existing yard tracks and construction of new tracks is finishing up this month. The site is accessed through an existing haul road at the ERC site under Cambridge Street.
- Crews are preparing to begin soil transportation from sites using the rail in late September.
- Overnight deliveries are expected as part of a Cambridge Fire Department project to Area B off Soldiers Field Road. These oversize loads are closely coordinated with State Police, Boston Police, and Cambridge Police and will conclude September 15th.
National Grid – Western Avenue
Work has been completed.
Kresge Way Gas Line Relocation Phase 2 and Extension of Thermal Pipes/Electrical Duct Bank
As part of Harvard’s infrastructure improvements in Allston, the University has relocated utilities across Western Avenue, over to and on Kresge Way, the main driveway into the Harvard Business School (HBS) campus. A temporary drive to Kresge Way remains open to the west of the existing drive. Traffic continues to be relocated to this interim drive on Western Avenue.
- Installation of the thermal piping is underway and will continue this month.
- On occasion a vacuum truck will be operational generating noise.
- Construction will be phased in smaller segments to minimize impacts to visitors, pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles.
- 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.
92 Seattle Street
- Renovation is underway for reuse of this Harvard building.
- Removal of regulated materials continues.
- Interior drilling of mini piles will continue this month.
- Later this month interior demo will continue with saw cutting, removing and trucking of the concrete slab.
- Test pits will be performed off Travis Street for water line work.
- The work will generate intermittent noise due to the presence of work crews and the use of construction equipment including but not limited to jackhammers.
- Work hours will be Monday through Friday, 7AM to 3PM with possible intermittent coordinated Saturday work.
175 North Harvard Street
Preparation is underway for demolition of the building starting later this month.
- Three trailer field offices remain occupied in the 201 Western Avenue lot.
- The MBTA bus stop and Blue Bike station has been relocated to the McCurdy track side of South Campus Drive.
- Interior abatement of the building continues.
- Demolition of the building is expected to begin the last week of September. During demolition noticeable noise and vibrations are expected from the use of construction equipment.
- From Tuesday September 5th to Wednesday September 6th crews will be performing two test pits on North Harvard Street in front of the building.
- Project work hours will be Monday through Friday from 7AM to 6PM. Some Saturday work may be necessary as permitted by the City of Boston also from 7AM to 6PM.
210 North Harvard Street
- Improvements to this Harvard-owned building will continue.
- Exterior work is expected to be completed this month.
- Some work will take place on the sidewalk and in the street parking spaces. Necessary signage and adjusted pedestrian pathways will be in place.
- Construction noise can be expected during standard work hours Monday through Friday, 7AM to 3PM. Excavators and trucking equipment will be used to perform this work.
Boston Water and Sewer Project – North Harvard Street & Soldier Field Road
As part of Boston Water and Sewer’s Capital improvement projects, a waterline replacement is underway at the intersection of North Harvard Street and Soldiers Field Road.
- The waterline feeds three hydrants and Newell Boathouse off Soldiers Field Road.
- While work takes place on Soldiers Field Road only one lane will be closed to limit the impact to vehicle traffic.
- This project is expected to be completed in September.
