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Eliot House

Harvard House Renewal – Phase 1 – Eliot House

Harvard House Renewal has engaged contractors to begin renovating Eliot House, one of Harvard’s undergraduate residential houses, located at 101 Dunster Street on the corner of JFK Street and Memorial Drive in June 2025. 

The scope of the project consists of exterior restoration, including new roofs, rebuilding chimneys, dormers, and repointing the brick facade, as well as full interior renovations to construct new student dormitory and staff units, with updated plumbing, HVAC, telephone/data, fire alarm and fire protection systems, and structural improvements. The project will also improve the building’s overall accessibility.

Early mobilization activities will take place starting Monday, June 9, 2025, to include site set up, fencing around the perimeter of the building, and signage placement. Eliot House will be closed for the duration of the renewal.

Project Schedule & Community Impacts

  • The contractor will begin setting up the work zone and fence line around the building on Monday, June 9, 2025..  
  • The project is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2027.
  • Project work hours will be Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Some Saturday work between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. may be necessary. Some second shift work (typically 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) may also occur during certain phases of the project. Abutters will be notified.
  • Scaffolding will be erected on all sides of the building from the ground level to the roof.
  • Fencing with scrim will be installed around the perimeter of Eliot House.
  • Fencing will feature signage and lighting, providing directional guidance and visibility.
  • Pedestrian access on JFK Street will be maintained throughout the duration of the project.
  • Two construction vehicle-only access points will be established off Memorial Drive.
  • Pedestrian access on the north side of Memorial Drive will be restricted and re-routed to the sidewalk on the river side of the roadway.
  • A temporary crosswalk will be installed on Memorial Drive with traffic lights/signals and signage will be in place to provide guidance for safety.
  • Dunster Street will be converted into a two-lane road at Mt Auburn Street to support the addition of construction vehicles, and the existing metered parking spaces along Dunster between Mt Auburn and South Street will be removed to accommodate the new traffic pattern.  
  • Construction vehicles will enter and exit the site by way of Dunster Street, the two gates off Memorial Drive, and via the loading dock located between Eliot and Kirkland House.
  • To support Harvard Dining Services during construction, a temporary kitchen trailer will be positioned on Dunster Street within the job site fence.
  • Any detours beyond those described above will be kept to a minimum duration and will be communicated in advance and coordinated closely with the City of Cambridge and all stakeholders.
  • In addition to the presence of work crews, neighbors can anticipate that the work between 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. will generate some perceptible noise due to the construction equipment necessary to renovate the building, including cranes, excavators, jackhammers, boom lifts, and power tools.
  • Police details will be on site as needed to assist with vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic.

Project Updates