175 North Harvard Street, 100 South Campus Drive
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 tower crane will be disassembled and removed from the site over the weekend beginning Friday evening, February 14. Because this is a sizeable undertaking, the crane disassembly and removal will require early morning and later evening hours through the weekend with removal complete by Sunday evening, February 16. An assist crane is expected to arrive on site and be assembled on Friday into the evening. Crews will begin dismantling the tower crane starting at 6 a.m. on Saturday, February 15 and will work until 9 p.m. Multiple trucks will be coming to the site to pick up and remove crane parts. On Sunday, February 16, work will continue, and the assist crane will be removed from site starting at 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The project team appreciates the community’s understanding during this after-hours work. South Campus Drive will be closed to vehicles during this work. Vehicles leaving the Continuum and Trader Joe’s parking garage will be instructed via signage to make a right turn only out of the garage.
- The final concrete deck placement will take place on the housing building on Friday, February 14 during regular work hours. Finishing work will extend beyond 9 p.m. with the colder temperatures. Noise is generated by the power trowels used for finishing. The fresh concrete needs to be covered with blankets for warmth while curing. A pump truck will be present on South Campus Drive during concrete pours.
- concrete placement on the roof should be completed by mid-February, weather permitting. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades continue to work throughout the site. Crews are fireproofing on the upper levels and progressing up the building. Window deliveries continue, and window installation has started. Stairs are being installed on the north side of the building. Sheathing continues on the south side of the low-rise building. A mobile crane may come on site to assist with these activities.
- During the week of February 17, work at the new affiliate housing building will require intermittent closure of South Campus Drive to all vehicles during working hours Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to support a concrete placement on the roof and critical deliveries that need to use South Campus Drive for access. At these times, all traffic leaving the Continuum and Trader Joe’s parking will be instructed to make a right turn only out of the garage. The road will be open to traffic each day after 5 p.m. and on weekends. Signage will be provided to divert traffic as needed, and police details will be on site to provide assistance. The signage will be covered after the end of each shift and on Sundays so vehicles can use South Campus Drive, with the exception of the weekend February 16 when the tower crane is scheduled to come down.
- The height of the temporary construction hoist has been increased to the 13th floor and will jump again next week to the roof. Work continues on doors and ramps. Some work may be in the evening when the hoist is not operational.
- Crews continue to install building wrap to retain temporary heat on upper floors during concrete and fireproofing activities. A small amount of noise associated with the temporary heaters falls within normal limits and may be noticed off-hours. Tarping is removed at the lower floors after the fireproofing is complete.
- Wheel washing and street sweeping continue to ensure soil is not being tracked through the neighborhood streets.
- On the new American Repertory Theater (ART) work site, crews are wrapping up concrete operations this week. Backfilling for exterior foundation walls, footings and piers, and excavating for utilities continues. Utility work continues around the building perimeter. Crews are grouting of columns at steel fly tower structure.
- Mass timber (engineered wood products known for their strength, durability, versatility and sustainability) will mobilize on Monday, February 24. Layout and setting of base plates for the mass timber structure is underway. A crane to support this work will mobilize this week. This work is expected to take about seven months to complete.
- Adjustments continue on the building mock-ups to review design and constructability across North Harvard Street. A surrounding structure will be built at the housing building mock-up to retain heat for flashing and masonry work. At the ART mockup, miscellaneous activities will take place intermittently.
- Work will be taking place at the affiliate housing building site this weekend in addition to the tower crane removal. Crews will be doing some exterior framing and welding on site, weather permitting. At the ART site, some work is planned for Saturday, February 15. Carpenters will be on site setting base plates in preparation for the mobilization of mass timber. Heaters will be maintained by workers on Sundays through the winter.
- Off hours snow and ice removal can be expected on both job sites as needed, including Saturdays and Sundays, and potentially this Monday despite the holiday.
- The affiliate housing building and the ART sites will be closed on Monday, February 17, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
- The project’s regular work hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturdays as permitted by the City of Boston from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.