Week of May 12, 2024

175 North Harvard Street Project Construction Impacts Update

The following is an overview of the work taking place at the 175 North Harvard construction site at the
future location of the new Harvard University affiliate housing building:

  • Utility work in Ivy Lane began in mid-April and will continue until the end of May, primarily
    during normal working hours. One lane will be maintained for through traffic during this work, and
    road plates will be installed at the end of each shift, reopening two lanes.
    o Work includes street excavation, and cutting and installing fittings to existing water lines.
    o Police details are on site to support this work.
    o Upon completion of this work, the brick pavers will be replaced on the sidewalk and the
    roadway will be patched.
  • A large mat slab placement is currently planned for Saturday, May 18. As noted last week, this
    work will require extended early morning hours to complete.
    o Please be advised that, 1) because of the large size of this concrete placement (over 2400
    cubic yards) and the need to acquire a proprietary, sustainable concrete mix from the only
    supplier that can provide it, Boston Sand & Gravel, and 2) because Boston Sand & Gravel
    is unable to supply greater than 1500 cubic yards of concrete during standard working
    hours, this work will need to begin at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 18.
    o The contractor will do their best to keep noise levels to a minimum, however, neighbors
    can expect to experience some intermittent noise due to the presence of a work crew on
    site and the use of equipment needed to perform this work, including several concrete
    pump trucks, and the Boston Sand & Gravel trucks arriving on site to deliver concrete.
    o We recognize this is disruptive and apologize for the inconvenience. Your patience and
    understanding are appreciated during this necessary activity.
    o South Campus Drive will be closed to traffic that morning from 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. to
    accommodate the trucks needed for this operation. Temporary lighting on site will be
    positioned away from the Continuum.
  • The tower crane will be in use for the next nine months during normal working hours. Over the
    next several weeks, the contractor will be using the tower crane to build the elevator core. At the
    end of each shift, the tower crane will be left in weathervane mode with safety lighting turned
    inward.
  • Foundation wall rebar installation is in progress as is the installation of below grade
    waterproofing. Small concrete pours continue throughout the week during normal working hours.
  • The contractor will be working on Saturday, May 11, to install rebar in preparation for the large
    mat slab placement targeted for May 18. All work on Saturday will be completed within the project
    fence line between 7:00 a.m. and – 4:00 p.m. and will not generate significant noise or traffic.
  • Only construction vehicles are permitted to turn onto South Campus Drive from North Harvard
    Street for safety reasons and to improve traffic flow. All other vehicles are directed to access
    South Campus Drive from Western Ave.
  • Truck traffic in and out of the site will remain steady during standard work hours. Wheel washing
    and street sweeping continues to ensure soil is not being tracked through the streets.
  • On the new American Repertory Theater (ART) work site, crews are building the elevator slabs and
    formwork for the foundation walls. Concrete pours and waterproofing operations continue. The
    project will be receiving rebar deliveries over the next few weeks for the building’s footings and
    foundation walls.
  • Soil is being stockpiled on site and will be covered to minimize dust.
  • Building mock-ups to review design and constructability are underway across North Harvard
    Street.
  • The project’s regular work hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and
    Saturdays as permitted by the City of Boston from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.