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 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)inside the tarped working enclosure. Temporary heaters will be set up in this area. 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 will move from the west side to the north side of the building to feed the tower. 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. Finishing work on the lower floors is ongoing. Drywall work continues and dry wall deliveries take place on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 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 continues. Excavation for the bike pavilion will begin on Monday, November 3 for one week with increased trucking through the site. Ramp work in the garage will start soon. Lighting will be adjusted to account for the shorter days.
- 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 is complete. Detailing work will continue through November. 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. Brick façade work will wrap Mid-November on the west side or the back side of the building. Brick work will be complete on the Harvard track side of the building in December. Wood protection trades and mechanical systems installation continue. Wood cladding continues on the two sections of the building closest to Ivy Lane. 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.
- Beginning on Monday, November 3, through Friday, November 7, workers will be removing a concrete wall on the Ivy Lane side of the job site using air compressing chipping guns. Some above normal noise can be expected during this work. The project team appreciates the community’s understanding during this necessary work.
- 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, November 1 and November 8, 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, November 1, continuing mass timber detailing, curtain wall, and general clean up. Saturday work can be expected through the winter.
- There are no plans to work at the affiliate housing building on Sunday, November 2 or November 9.
- There is no work taking place at the building mock-up across North Harvard Street.
- The projects are under camera surveillance, with live monitoring and audible messaging.
- 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.