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):
- Window and doorframe deliveries and window installation using boom lifts continue. Exterior wall sheathing continues. Exterior swing staging and a scaffolding lift system are set up on the buildings to assist with curtainwall installation. Multiple swing stages are on the mid-rise and will be jumping to the tower next week. Roofing is progressing and a support crane will be on site next week to assist. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades continue to work throughout the site. Interior fit out and framing continue. Work continues on doors and ramps. Stairs are being installed. Brick work started last week on the courtyard side of the building to be followed by the south side. Bricks are being delivered regularly.
- During the week of April 28, the contractor will need to periodically close South Campus Drive between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to support lift access to the building’s west elevation, which cannot accommodate swing staging. The only available access for this work is via a large boom lift that will not fit within the fence line. In addition, to accommodate some trucks that are too large to make the turn into the job site, the contractor may need to utilize one lane of Ivy Lane in front of the project gate to unload materials. Access to Ivy Lane for the general public and the Continuum, Sloane’s, and Trader Joe’s deliveries will be a priority. If necessary, construction delivery vehicles will be diverted until they can unload in a way that does not impede traffic on Ivy Lane.
- When South Campus Drive is closed, all traffic leaving the Continuum and Trader Joe’s parking garage will be instructed to make a right turn only out of the garage. South Campus Drive will be open to traffic each day after 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday. 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 so vehicles can use South Campus Drive.
- 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, the project has a crane in place to install mass timber (engineered wood products known for their strength, durability, versatility and sustainability) for the next several months. Daily wood deliveries are underway. The rest of this month will focus on wall panels. An increase in trucking is expected for panel delivery.
- Steel detailing work continues. A police detail is assigned to North Harvard Street/South Campus Drive to help facilitate mass timber trailer deliveries. Wood protection trades and mechanical systems installation continues as mass timber gets installed. Columns, beams, trusses, stairs, wall panels, beams and flooring have been installed in the first sector near the west stage.
- Periodic adjustments will take place on the ART building mock-up to review design and constructability across North Harvard Street.
- Work will be taking place at the affiliate housing building on the next two Saturdays, April 26, and May 3, to do some exterior wall sheathing, masonry, window installation, and interior mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work. This work is dependent on the weather.
- The crew at the ART project will be working on Saturdays, April 26, and May 3, installing mass timber. This work is dependent on the weather.
- 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.
- Off-hours water management may be needed for the ART mass timber roofs and structures during and after rain events.