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):
• Exterior swing staging and a scaffolding lift system are set up on the buildings to assist with curtainwall installation. Multiple swing stages are in place around the job site. Multiple masonry crews are working on all sides of the building. Brick work is expanding around the building and brick deliveries have increased. The operating crane will move into a different on-site location on Monday, July 7. An additional crane will arrive on Monday, July 14 to place a generator on the roof. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades continue work on multiple levels. Interior fit outs and framing continues. Miscellaneous deliveries to the hoist will continue. Elevator installation is ongoing in the north tower. Drywall work continues and dry wall deliveries take place 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. three times per week and will start every Saturday, beginning July 12, for the rest of the summer as fit outs continue. On the south side of the tower, crews will be erecting scaffolding. Framing and sheathing will be substantially complete by the end of July. Window installation is ongoing. Small utilities inside the site continue. Telecom duct bank installation is ongoing.
• Next week, the week of July 7, excluding Saturday, Sunday, the contractor will need to close South Campus Drive periodically between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The road will close on Monday, July 7 to relocate the crane. South Campus Drive will be open to traffic each day after 5:00 p.m.
• The contractor may need to utilize one lane of Ivy Lane in front of the project gate to unload materials. Access to Ivy Lane for the general public and the Continuum, Sloane’s, and Trader Joe’s deliveries will be 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.
• As always, 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. Installation continues on the front section of the building closest to North Harvard Street along with columns, beams, and wall panels. Work will shift to the west to continue the front-section by mid-July. Masonry work is underway. Additional trades are on site for block work, roof level parapet work, and slab on deck pours. Mechanical system prep work is underway with equipment on site. Roofing work on west stage fly tower continues.
• 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. Columns, beams, stairs, wall panels, beams, and flooring have been installed in two sections of the new building with the front in progress.
• Drones are flying over the site on a bi-weekly basis to capture project progress.
• Periodic work will take place on the ART building mock-up to review design and constructability across North Harvard Street. Detailing will continue through July 11. Balustrades will arrive next week and steel detailing will take place with the finish trades will come to the site mid-July.
• No work is planned on either project for the holiday weekend July 4, 5 and 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.
• Off-hours water management may be needed for the ART mass timber roofs and structures during and after rain events.