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 being removed where curtainwall installation and masonry are complete. Scaffolding is set up and curtainwall is underway on the north side of the site (the Harvard track side) inside the tarped working enclosure for the next three weeks. Temporary heaters have been set up in this area. Brick is topped off on the low-rise and will be topped off on the mid-rise later this fall. The south side of the tower is anticipated to be topped out by Thanksgiving. Three cranes are supporting the brick installation. Brickwork is taking place in the courtyard and is moving up the building. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades continue working on multiple levels. Miscellaneous deliveries to the hoist will continue. The hoist will be taken down in the first week of January. Elevators are progressing for a November turnover. Finishing work on the lower floors is ongoing. Site work and small utility work continue. Dry wall work continues. Dry wall deliveries are slowing down, yet continue to take place on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays. Drywall should be completed by the end of the year. Interior fit outs and framing beginning on lower floors continue throughout the building. Window installation is complete. Kitchen and bathroom work is underway. Utility drainage work continues. Bike pavilion work adjacent to Ivy Lane continues with the foundation finishing up. Ramp work in the garage will start soon. Lighting has been adjusted to account for the shorter days. After Thanksgiving, crews will be mostly work in the interior of the building.
- PLEASE NOTE: South Campus Drive will be closed to vehicles during regular work hours through May 2026 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 structural and detail installation is complete. Roofing is underway. A crane on the Ivy Lane side of the building is scheduled to assist with exterior steel roof wall framing on Tuesday, November 25. A crane is on the Harvard track side of the building to assist with block work on the roof for the next month. Masons are also working on walls. Exterior façade work is underway. Staging is up to support the brick façade work and will be removed on the courtyard side of the building. On the north side of the building closer to the Harvard track, winter scaffolding wrap is in place for the brick work, which is scheduled to be completed on that side in December. All mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades are mobilized. Drywall work is taking place around the mass timber components. Wood protection trades and mechanical systems installation continue. Concrete slab placement continues. Exterior tarp protection at openings is installed throughout the building. Exterior wall framing and insulation to prepare for wood cladding installation will come around on North Harvard Street sections of the building followed by the two sections along Ivy Lane. Work on overhead balconies and catwalk systems continues into December. The building is scheduled to be weather-tight by mid- December. Daily steel, block, and wood deliveries continue. Scaffold erection at the roof for the fly tower and chimneys will take place. Temporary heaters are in use.
- 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, November 22 and November 29, doing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work, exterior masonry, some interior finish trades and general clean up. 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 Saturday, November 22 and November 29, installing roofing, curtainwalls, and tarps at temporary openings as well as general clean up. Saturday work can be expected through the winter.
- There are no plans to work at either building on Sunday, November 23 or Sunday, November 30.
- Both project sites will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27.
- There is no work taking place at the building mock-up across North Harvard Street.
- The projects are under camera surveillance, with live monitoring and audible messaging.
- 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.