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 is ongoing with decking and detailing continuing through late December. Steel beams deliveries are offloaded and installed using the tower crane. Crews are working on level 6 and 7. Level 8 and 9 will start at the end of October. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades are working on site. 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 is grading and prepping an area for the temporary construction hoist. Work includes sitework, rebar, and concrete. Crews are also fireproofing at the garage level.
- As the building grows in height, there is an increase in personnel on upper floors and on exterior staging.
- The tower crane will be in use for the next few 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 concrete 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 four 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 to retain heat (November).
- On the new American Repertory Theater (ART) work site, a mix of excavating, backfilling, placements, footings, and walls continues. Excavation for footings and concrete operations continue with regular concrete placements.
- Curtainwall (the non-structural exterior building covering) has begun and then the contractor will start working on the brick façade. Structural slab placements continue at the lower level. On the east side, crews are starting underground electrical with placements every couple of days. The next sequence of concrete will start on Tuesday, October 8, and will continue through November. A 500-yard slab on grade placement is scheduled for Wednesday, October 9. Another larger placement is planned for Thursday, October 17. Structural steel will be arriving on site at the end of November.
- Ivy Lane utility work on the 12-inch drain line tie in and the 6-inch sewer tie finished last week. Plates are placed over the water line taps until testing is complete. Upon completion, replacement of brick pavers will be completed at the sidewalk, and the 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 window and curtain wall system. Brick work and wood plating continues. Painting and caulking are complete. Design team and City inspections are scheduled for October 7 and 8. Adjustments continue intermittently on the housing mockup.
- A crew will be working at the ART mockup on Saturday, October 5. There is no work planned on site otherwise for the next two Saturdays, October 5 and 12.
- 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.