Week of July 1, 2024

175 North Harvard Street Project Construction Impacts Update

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):

  • There may be periods of time where road closures on South Campus Drive are required due to
    increased trucking and the job site’s logistical constraints. When closures are needed, signage,
    police details, and traffic cones will be in position to provide guidance.
  • The North Core elevator shaft work continues and is on target for completion in mid-July. This
    work includes the installation of rebar, formwork, and concrete vertically utilizing the tower crane.
  • The tower crane will be in use for the next nine months during normal working hours and will be
    placed in weathervane mode with safety lighting turned inward at the end of every shift.
  • Foundation wall rebar installation is in progress as is the installation of below grade
    waterproofing. Small concrete pours continue throughout the week during normal working hours.
    Under slab mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work is underway.
  • The structural steel phase of the housing project is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 15.
  • Only construction vehicles are permitted to turn onto South Campus Drive from North Harvard
    Street for safety reasons and to improve traffic flow. All other vehicles are directed to access
    South Campus Drive from Western Ave.
  • There has been an uptick in truck traffic in and out of the site during standard work hours. Wheel
    washing and street sweeping continues to ensure soil is not being tracked through the streets.
  • On the new American Repertory Theater (ART) work site, small concrete pours are taking place
    every couple of days and waterproofing operations continue. The project continues to work on
    backfill operations, conduit and duct bank work. Crews will be excavating where the stockpile was
    located, leading into rebar and concrete placements. All excavated material will be reused for
    backfill. Concrete and rebar work will continue through August.
  • Stockpiled soil removal began on Friday, June 14. This work was complete last week.
  • The contractor has is now targeting the end of the week of July 15 or early the week of July 22
    for a mat slab placement, which will require an early morning start. The project team is
    targeting a 5:00 a.m. start for this work. Concrete pump trucks will arrive on site to prepare
    as early as 4:00 a.m. The contractor will do its best to keep noise levels to a minimum.
    Neighbors can expect to experience some intermittent noise due to the presence of a work
    crew on site and the use of equipment needed to perform this work, including concrete
    pump trucks, and trucks arriving on site to deliver concrete. A date for this work will be
    provided once it is scheduled.
  • Building mock-ups to review design and constructability are underway across North Harvard
    Street. The curtain wall for the mock-up will be delivered in early August. There is no work planned
    on the building mock-ups next week.
  • On Saturday, June 29, carpenters will be on site working on formwork. All work on Saturday will be
    completed within the project fence line between 7:00 a.m. and – 4:00 p.m. and will not generate
    significant noise or traffic.
  • The projects’ job sites are closed on Thursday, July 4. There is no work scheduled at the new
    Harvard affiliate housing building on Saturday, July 6.
  • 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.