175 North Harvard Street Project Construction Impacts
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):
- Exterior swing staging and a scaffolding lift system are set up on the buildings to assist with curtainwall installation and masonry. Scaffolding is being installed on the west corner and is complete inside the courtyard. Some swing staging is being removed this month. Multiple masonry crews are working on all sides of the building. Brick work is expanding around the building and brick deliveries have increased. Brick topping off on the mid-rise and south side is expected mid-September. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades continue work on multiple levels. Interior fit outs and framing continues throughout the building. Miscellaneous deliveries to the hoist will continue. Elevator installation remains ongoing in the north tower. Drywall work continues and dry wall deliveries take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays, throughout the summer. Interior framing is ongoing. Small utilities inside the site continue. Roofing installation is ongoing. The 14-story roof is ongoing and will be finished in about one week. A third crane this week loaded the last of the materials to the roof. Window installation continues. Smaller concrete placements continue. Finishes on the lower floors are ongoing. The bike storage room will begin in the fall.
- South Campus Drive will be closed to vehicles periodically between 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the week of August 18, to provide for crane access to the roof. The road will be open to traffic each day after 5:00 p.m.
- 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. 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.
- 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.
- 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, mass timber installation continues along with wood deliveries. Work continues on the front sections of the building closest to North Harvard Street and roofing is underway on one of these sections. Roofing materials are delivered by crane once per week. Additional trades are on site for masonry work, roof level parapet work, and slab on deck pours. Mechanical system work is ongoing with equipment on site. All mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades are mobilized. Parapet work on the higher roofs is underway. The roof work is wrapping up on two of the three back sections of the building. Drywall work is taking place. Exterior façade work has begun. Brick scaffolding started last week. Mass timber on the building’s mid-section facing North Harvard will continue for another two weeks after which the contractor will start working on the front section of the building closest to Ivy Lane. Staging is going up to support the brick façade work. Curtain wall work will begin at the end of the month on the section of the building closest to Harvard’s track.
- 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.
- Drones are flying over the site on a bi-weekly basis to capture project progress.
- Work will be taking place at the affiliate housing building on Saturdays, August 16, and August 23, to work on exterior wall sheathing, window sealants, and interior framing, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work, and masonry. This work is dependent on the weather. Some Saturday work can be expected each week going forward.
- Utility valve work will be taking place inside the gate between the projects off South Campus Drive.
- A crew at the ART project will be working on mass timber and some roofing on Saturday, August 16. Saturday work is expected through the winter.
- On Sunday, August 17, the housing building will have two small crews doing interior electrical and spray foam work inside the building.
- Finishes and design review of the stage flip-up gallery took place last week at the ART building mock-up across North Harvard Street, which was decommissioned on August 1.
- 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.