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 set up on the buildings to assist with curtainwall installation and masonry. Scaffolding is up on the west and north side of the building. Brick topping off on the mid-rise and south side is expected by early October. A second crane continues to support the west side of the building to feed the brick on the west tower. Brickwork is moving up the building and is finished in the courtyard. Sheathing and framing install is ongoing. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades continue working on multiple levels. Miscellaneous deliveries to the hoist will continue. Elevator shafts are being framed this month, and elevators are being installed on the north core. Finish 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. Interior fit outs and framing continue throughout the building. Framing started on the lower floors. Small utilities inside the site continue. Window installation is progressing. Finishes on the lower floors are ongoing. Kitchen and bathroom work is underway. The bike pavilion work will begin in November. Small concrete pours with a pump truck can be expected intermittently to place column encasements in the garage.
- PLEASE NOTE: Work will take place to remove the tower crane’s concrete pad beginning at the end of next week for approximately 7 to 10 business days. This work requires mechanical chipping and hammering, which will generate regular and perceptible noise during work routine hours.
- PLEASE NOTE: South Campus Drive will be closed to vehicles during regular work hours for the next six 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 installation continues along with wood deliveries. Mass timber is now complete on the front section of the building closest to Ivy Lane. Acoustic metal decking has started. Roofing is underway on all sections and roofing materials are delivered by crane once per week. Additional trades are on site for masonry work, roof level parapet work, and slab on deck pours. Mechanical system work is ongoing with equipment on site. All mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades are mobilized. Drywall work is taking place. Exterior façade prep work is underway. Staging is up to support the brick façade work. Curtainwall work started on the section of the building closest to Harvard’s track and will continue around the building clockwise. Riser work and overhead mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work is ongoing. Wood protection trades and mechanical systems installation continue as mass timber gets installed. Concrete slab placement has started.
- PLEASE NOTE: The contractor will be working to remove a concrete wall within the job site that sits along Ivy Lane beginning Monday, September 29, for approximately three days. This work requires mechanical chipping with power tools, which will generate repetitive, perceptible noise between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- A police detail is assigned to North Harvard Street/South Campus Drive to help facilitate mass timber trailer deliveries. To deliver mass timber to the section of the building closest to Ivy Lane, trucks will need to enter Ivy Lane traveling west down Ivy Lane from North Harvard Street. During this time, the trucks will be walked down Ivy Lane by personnel, and vehicular traffic will be stopped briefly at the Continuum garage exit and at the corner of South Campus Drive and Ivy Lane.
- 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, September 27, and October 4, doing some masonry along with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work. Some Saturday work can be expected each week going forward. There won’t be any road closures on Saturdays.
- A crew at the ART project will be working on Saturday, September 27. Saturday work can be expected through the winter. This week, crews will be working on mass timber detailing, collecting trash and cleanup, carpenter temp safety rails, and decking installation. An additional crane will be on site on Saturday to hoist roofing material to one of the building sections facing North Harvard Street.
- There will be some Sunday work on the affiliate housing building on September 28. A crew will be doing dome interior epoxy work and framing out elevator shafts. There is no Sunday work planned on October 5.
- There is no work taking place at the ART 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.