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 work finishing on levels 10 and 11 soon with levels 12 and 13 to follow. Steel should be completed later in December with a topping off tentatively scheduled for December 18. Decking and detailing will continue through December. Concrete pours will continue this week. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades continue to work throughout the site. A subcontractor continues working on small utilities, including storm, duct bank, and data and is backfilling around the foundation. Exterior waterproofing continues and crews are fireproofing on several levels. This work will continue progressing up the building. The dewatering tank will be removed at the end of December.
- The temporary construction hoist (exterior elevator) tower installation is underway closer to South Campus Drive and is expected to be operational by the second week of December. Steel stairways are being placed.
- Within the next couple of weeks, the building’s exterior will be enclosed with tarping to retain temporary heat. Temporary heaters are being installed.
- Neighbors will continue to see road closures on South Campus Drive in support of concrete operations to allow for concrete pump placement and site access. All pours are anticipated to take place on weekdays during normal working hours with the road being returned at the end of each day. Signage and details will be provided to divert traffic as needed.
- Concrete deck placements can be expected each week from level 8 to the roof level during regular work hours into December – some finishing work may extend beyond 6:00 p.m. depending on weather conditions. A pump truck will be present on South Campus Drive during concrete pours.
- Within the next six to eight weeks, work will begin taking place at the roof level. Personnel on upper floors and exterior staging will continue yet should be less noticeable in the coming months when the exterior building wrap is in place.
- The tower crane will be in use for the next two months during normal working hours and is 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.
- On the new American Repertory Theater (ART) work site, a mix of backfilling, and interior and exterior concrete wall and pier placements continues. Excavation for loading dock foundations is underway. Interior slab and exterior wall waterproofing is ongoing. Utility installation around the perimeter of the building continues.
- Structural steel will be arriving on the ART site on Monday, December 9, and installation will run through January. A crane will be set up on site that morning to support this work. Multiple concrete placements to enable structural steel installation will take place each week for the next few weeks. There is potential for early work starts and late finishes during some of these placements. Installation will run through mid-December and detailing
- through January.
- Mass timber (engineered wood products known for their strength, durability, versatility and sustainability) will follow in February.
- Work continues on the building mock-ups to review design and constructability across North Harvard Street. At the ART mockup, activities will take place intermittently. Adjustments continue intermittently on the housing mockup to include framing, sheathing, and masonry.
- Both job sites will be open, and crews will be working on Friday, November 29.
- Crews at the affiliate housing building site will be working on Saturday, November 30. A crane will be on site on Saturday to install precast stairs. Crews at the ART project will also be working on Saturday, November 30, on concrete preparation and foundation wall forms from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- 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.