175 North Harvard Street Project Construction
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 going up on the west and north side of the building. Scaffolding is complete inside the courtyard. Some swing staging is being removed this month. Multiple masonry crews are working on all sides of the building and brick deliveries have increased. Brick topping off on the mid-rise and south side is expected mid-September. Brickwork is currently placed up to the 3rd floor. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades continue working 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. Finish work on the lower floors is ongoing. Drywall work continues and dry wall deliveries take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays. Interior framing is ongoing. Small utilities inside the site continue. Roofing installation is ongoing. The 14-story roof was finished this week. 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 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, for crane access to install two-story windows along the west elevation. During the week of September 1, South Campus Drive will be closed to vehicles periodically from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.to provide for crane access to the roof. The road will be open to traffic each day after 5 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, including the section closest to Ivy Lane and the Continuum. A crane will be relocating to this side of the site to support this work. Mass timber will be finished in the building’s front-facing mid-section by the end of next week. Two of the three back sections are being rendered weather tight. Staging is underway in prep for brick façade work. Roofing is underway on all sections, and will be wrapping up soon on two of the three back sections of the building. 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. Drywall work is taking place. Exterior façade prep work is underway. Staging is 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 30, and September 6. A small crew of laborers will be working on Saturday, August 30, with a crane on South Campus Drive to install second story windows along the west side of the building.
- Some Saturday work can be expected each week going forward.
- A crew at the ART project will NOT be working on Saturday, August 30. Saturday work can be expected through the winter.
- There will not be any Sunday work on either job site this week and both sites will be closed for the Labor Day holiday on Monday, September 1.
- There is no work currently taking place at the ART building mock-up across North Harvard Street.
- 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.
- Off-hours water management may be needed for the ART mass timber roofs and structures during and after rain events.