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 installation using boom lifts continues. 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. In the next week and half, a crane in the next week and half will load roofing material to the 8th and 10th story roof. Brick work is underway on the courtyard side of the building to be followed by the south side. Bricks are being delivered regularly. Roofing is progressing and a support crane is on site to assist. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades continue to work throughout the site. Interior fit out and framing continues. Drywall operations will begin in June. Miscellaneous deliveries to the hoist will continue.
• During the week of May 12, the contractor will need to periodically close South Campus Drive between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 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. Currently crews are finishing wrapping the skin of the section at the high point of the fly tower. Mass Timber work has begun on an adjacent section of the building closest to South Campus Drive through the month of May. The project added a 100-ton crane in the access road to assist with chimneys, which is expected to be completed by May 23. Masonry work is mobilizing this month.
• Steel detailing work continues ahead of waterproofing. 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.
• A light pole has been removed along the walking path adjacent to McCurdy Track along South Campus Drive to provide truck turn radius access for trailers.
• 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, May 10 and May 17, to do some exterior wall sheathing, window installation, and interior framing and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work. This work is dependent on weather.
• A small crew at the ART project will be working on Saturdays, May 10 and 17, installing mass timber. This work is dependent on 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.