175 North Harvard Street, 100 South Campus Drive
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 structural steel phase of the housing project is finishing on upper levels, and the final steel delivery took place last week. Steel decking installation and detailing continues. Concrete deck placements will continue on upper levels to the roof and should be complete later in January. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades are working throughout the site. Work continues working on small utilities, including storm, duct bank, and data and is backfilling around the foundation. Crews are fireproofing on several levels. This work will continue progressing up the building.
- Crews began using the temporary construction hoist (exterior elevator) on Thursday, December 19. The height of the hoist will need to be increased in the coming weeks.
- Installation of building wrap to retain temporary heat on upper floors during concrete and fireproofing activities is ongoing. A small amount of noise associated with the temporary heaters falls within normal limits and may be heard off-hours. Some tarping will be removed at the lower floors after the fireproofing is complete.
- PLEASE NOTE: For the next several weeks, a combination of activities at both the new affiliate housing building and American Repertory Theatre (ART) projects will require the closure of South Campus Drive to all vehicles Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. All traffic leaving the Continuum and Trader Joe’s parking will be instructed to make a right turn only out of the garage. The road will be open to traffic each day after 5 p.m. and on weekends. Signage and details will be provided to divert traffic as needed and police details will be on site to provide assistance.
- Concrete deck placements continue on the upper levels to the roof level during regular work hours throughout this month – some finishing work will extend beyond 9 p.m. with the colder temperatures. Noise is generated by the power trowels used for finishing. The fresh concrete needs to be covered with blankets for warmth while curing. A pump truck will be present on South Campus Drive during concrete pours.
- The tower crane will be in use for the next month during normal working hours and is placed in weathervane mode with safety lighting turned inward at the end of every shift. The crane is scheduled to be disassembled and removed from the site over the weekend of February 1 and 2. Because this is a sizeable undertaking, the crane removal will require some after-hours work. More detail will be provided as the date gets closer.
- Wheel washing and street sweeping continues to ensure soil is not being tracked through the neighborhood streets.
- On the new American Repertory Theater (ART) work site, interior concrete walls and piers will continue after this through the first week of January. Exterior wall waterproofing is ongoing. Backfilling for exterior walls and excavating for utilities continues. Utility work continues around the building perimeter. Structural steel work at the ART site was finished during the week of December 30. Steel detailing for the theatre’s stage and fly tower structure and concrete placements will run through January.
- Mass timber (engineered wood products known for their strength, durability, versatility and sustainability) will follow in late February. A crane to support this work will mobilize on Friday, February 14.
- Work continues on the building mock-ups to review design and constructability across North Harvard Street. A surrounding structure will be built at the housing building mock-up to retain heat for flashing and masonry work. At the ART mockup, miscellaneous activities will take place intermittently.
- Crews at the affiliate housing building site will be working on Saturday, January 4, to continue installing structural steel. Heaters will be maintained by workers on Sundays through the winter.
- Off hours snow and ice removal are expected as needed.
- 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.