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 being removed on where curtainwall installation and masonry are complete. Scaffolding is set up and curtainwall has started on the north side of the site (the Harvard track side) for the next three weeks. Brick topped off on the low-rise and will be topped off on the mid-rise later this fall. Three cranes support the brick installation. A crane moved from the west side to the north side of the building to feed the tower this past week. Brickwork is moving up the building. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades continue working on multiple levels. Mechanical chipping is now complete. Miscellaneous deliveries to the hoist will continue. Elevators are progressing for a November turnover. Finish work on the lower floors is ongoing. Drywall work continues and dry wall deliveries take place on Wednesdays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays. Drywall should be completed by the end of the year. Interior fit outs and framing beginning on lower floors continue throughout the building. Window installation is complete. Kitchen and bathroom work is underway. Utility drainage work will resume. The bike pavilion work will begin in early November. Ramp work in the garage will start soon.
- PLEASE NOTE: South Campus Drive will be closed to vehicles during regular work hours for the next seven months from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to accommodate crane access and large delivery vehicles. 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 will 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 structural installation will be complete next week. The associated crane will leave the site. Acoustic metal decking continues on level one. Roofing is
- underway and roofing materials are delivered by crane once per week. Masons are working on walls. All mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades are mobilized. Drywall work is taking place. Exterior façade work is underway. Staging is up to support the brick façade work. Wood protection trades and mechanical systems installation continue as mass timber gets installed. Concrete slab placement continues. Steel is being installed for the west stage balcony. Exterior tarp protection at openings is being installed throughout the building. Curtain wall systems are ongoing around the east side (the North Harvard Street side) of the building. Miscellaneous steel is coming into the west stage setting up the overhead balconies and catwalk systems. This work will go into November/December. The building is scheduled to be weather-tight by December.
- Gate E on Ivy lane will be relocated to align with the ART loading dock from Wednesday, October 29 through Friday, October 31. During this time crews and equipment will be on Ivy Lane moving jersey barriers and fencing.
- 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, October 25, and November 1, doing some mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work, exterior masonry, some interior finish trades and general clean up. Some Saturday work can be expected each week going forward. Road closures are not anticipated on Saturdays.
- A crew at the ART project will be working on Saturday, October 25 continuing mass timber detailing, interior stage steel work and general clean up. Saturday work can be expected through the winter.
- The contractor will be working on interior finishes in the main electrical room at the affiliate housing building on Sunday, October 26. There are no plans to work at the affiliate housing building on Sunday, November 2.
- There is no work taking place at the 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.