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 late 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 as well as exterior waterproofing, 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. The contractor will be working on grading and prepping an area for the temporary construction hoist. Work will include sitework, rebar, and concrete.
- Neighbors will notice that there has been an increase in personnel on upper floors and on exterior staging as the building grows in height.
- The tower crane will be in use for the next four 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 will be several road closures on S. Campus Drive in support of concrete operations to allow for pump placement and site access. At this time, the contractor does not have specific days scheduled yet. All pours are anticipated to take place on weekdays during normal working hours with the road being returned at the end of each day. All signage and details will be provided to divert traffic as needed.
- Within the next six to eight weeks, additional work will include concrete deck placements on levels two through five, installation of material hoist and common tower (mid-October), fireproofing (mid-October), and exterior building wrap (November).
- On the new American Repertory Theater (ART) work site, foundation work continues with a mix of excavating, backfilling, placements, footings, and wall activity. Plumbing work continues 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. Structural slab placements have begun at the lower level. On the east side, excavation for footings and concrete operations continue through the rest of this month with placements every couple of days. Then crews will excavate for the foundation and backfill.
- A slab on grade placement is scheduled for October 2. Crews are starting underground electrical and will have that backfilled next week and scheduled another concrete slab placement on October 8.
- Utility work at Ivy Lane continues with waterline and storm drain line activity. Work will take place during regular work hours and will continue until the end of the month. The road will be plated overnight. The contractor will be implementing intermittent closures of Ivy Lane to through-traffic, always maintaining access to the Continuum garage and loading dock. One lane of through-traffic will mostly be maintained or sent to South Campus Drive. HUPD officers are directing traffic. Teams will be coordinating to maintain traffic control during Ivy Lane and South Campus Drive-related activities. Upon completion, brick pavers will be replaced at the sidewalk, and roadway will be patched with pavement.
- Work continues on the building mock-ups to review design and constructability across North Harvard Street. At the ART mockup, crews are installing the punch window and curtain wall system. Brick work and wood plating began last week. The mockups should be finished by October 2, and design team inspections are scheduled for October 7 and 8.
- There is no work planned on site for the next two Saturdays, September 21 and September 28.
- 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.