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. Brick topped off on the low-rise and will be topped off on the mid-rise later in October. Three cranes support the brick installation. Brickwork is moving up the building and is finished in the courtyard. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades continue working on multiple levels. Miscellaneous deliveries to the hoist will continue. 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 beginning on lower floors continue throughout the building. Window installation will be complete next week. Kitchen and bathroom work is underway. The bike pavilion work will begin in November.
- PLEASE NOTE: Work will take place to remove the tower crane’s concrete pad at beginning mid-week for approximately 2 weeks. 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 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. Wood protection trades and mechanical systems installation continue as mass timber gets installed. Concrete slab placement continues. Steel is being installed for the west stage balcony. Exterior tarp protection at openings is being installed throughout the building.
- 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.
- Both job sites will be closed on Monday, October 13, in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day.
- Work will be taking place at the affiliate housing building on Saturdays, October 4 and 11, doing some mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work and some interior finish trades. 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 Saturdays, October 4 and October 11 continuing mass timber detailing and cleaning up. Saturday work can be expected through the winter.
- The contractor will NOT be working on the affiliate housing building on the next two Sundays, October 5 and 12.
- There is no work taking place at the 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.