As part of Harvard House Renewal’s multi-phase renovation of Adams House, the University’s contractors began construction on Russell Hall, Library Commons, and Westmorly Court at 26 Plympton/13-21 Bow Street in June 2023. The project was substantially complete in August 2025 in time for students to move into the building for the 2025 fall semester.
The scope of the project consisted 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 dwelling units, with all updated plumbing, HVAC, telephone/data, fire alarm and fire protection systems, and structural improvements. The project also improves the buildings’ overall accessibility.
Project Schedule & Community Impacts
- The contractor set up the work zone and fence line around the buildings on June 16, 2023.
- Project work hours were 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. was necessary. Second shift work (typically 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) occurred during certain phases of the project.
- Scaffolding was erected on all sides of the building from the ground level to the roof.
- Plympton Street remained open to traffic for the duration of the project via a single travel lane, however, the public parking spaces on Plympton Street were not accessible during the project.
- The full width of the section of Bow Street in front of Russell Hall and Westmorly Court was closed to vehicular traffic on a 24-hour basis for the duration of the project.
- The vehicle travel lane on Bow Street in front of Randolph Hall from Plympton Street to Linden Street was returned to one-way west travel for the duration of the project.
- Pedestrian access was maintained throughout the areas of Bow and Plympton Streets, keeping at least one sidewalk open on each street. Detour signage was in place when pedestrians need to be re-routed.
- Any closures beyond those described above were kept to a minimum duration and were communicated in advance and coordinated closely with the City of Cambridge and all stakeholders.
- Police details were on site as needed to assist with vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic.
