175 North Harvard Street
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 roof is substantially complete. 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. Brick topping off on the mid-rise and south side is expected mid-September. A second crane arrived on site last week to support the west side of the building to feed the brick on the west tower. Brickwork is currently placed up to the 3rd floor and is finished in the courtyard. Sheathing and framing install around the hoist is ongoing. 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. Framing topping off on the midrise and south side is expected in the middle of September. Small utilities inside the site continue. Window installation continues. Windows are in on the north, west, and south side of the north tower. 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 occasionally from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the week of September 8 to provide for crane access. The road will be open to traffic each day after 5:00 p.m. Adjustments have been made to roadway lighting to account for the shorter days.
- Access to Ivy Lane for the general public and the Continuum, Sloane’s, and Trader Joe’s deliveries remain 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. Mass timber will be complete on the front mid-section by mid-September and on the front section of the building closest to North Harvard Street by mid-October. Metal decking on one section will begin next week. 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. Riser work and overhead mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work has started.
- 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, September 6, and September 13, doing some masonry along with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work. Some Saturday work can be expected each week going forward.
- A crew at the ART project will be working on Saturday, September 6. Saturday work can be expected through the winter.
- There will be some Sunday work on the affiliate housing building on September 7 and 14. A crew will be on site installing sheathing and an air vapor barrier on the common hoist tower to continue to make the building watertight.
- 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, 7:00 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.