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 and American Repertory Theatre
(ART):
- The structural steel phase of the housing project remains ongoing. Decking and detailing continues through December. Steel beams deliveries are offloaded and installed using the tower crane. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades are on site working on under slab utilities. Rebar installation continues and several concrete placements will take place each week during regular work hours – some finishing work may extend beyond 6:00 p.m. depending on weather conditions. Stud welders are in use on site, which do create some perceptible noise. The contractor will be backfilling in the Northeast corner of the job site on Monday.
- As the building grows in height, please note there will be an increase in personnel on upper floors and on exterior staging.
- The tower crane will be in use for the next five months during normal working hours and will be placed in weathervane mode with safety lighting turned inward at the end of every shift.
- Wheel washing and street sweeping continues to ensure soil is not being tracked through the neighborhood streets.
- There are no planned road closures on South Campus Drive this week. 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.
- Within the next six weeks, concrete deck placements on levels two through five may require some extended hours. More details will be provided as the date gets closer.
- On the new American Repertory Theater (ART) work site, backfilling is ongoing in the substage area. Plumbing work has begun in preparation for slab on grade work. Formwork and waterproofing will be ongoing and tie-ins for the mat slab work have started. Excavation for footings and concrete operations continue through the rest of this month with concrete placements every couple of days. Curtainwall (the non-structural exterior building covering) will begin this month and then the contractor will start working on the brick façade.
- Beginning next week, the week of September 9, utility work will begin on Ivy Lane on the 12-inch drain line tie in and two water taps for the domestic and fire protection lines. One lane will be kept open on Ivy Lane for vehicles to pass. Work will take place during regular work hours and will continue through September. The road will be plated overnight.
- Work continues on the building mock-ups to review design and constructability across North Harvard Street. The curtain wall for the mock-up will be delivered and installed next week followed by the brick facade.
- There is no work planned on site for the next two Saturdays, September 7 and 14.
- 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.