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 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 dwelling units, with all updated plumbing, HVAC, telephone/data, fire alarm and fire protection systems, and structural improvements. The project will also improve the buildings’ overall accessibility.
Project Schedule & Community Impacts
- The contractor began setting up the work zone and fence line around the buildings on Friday, June 16th.
- The project is scheduled for completion in July 2025.
- Project work hours are 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. Second shift work (typically 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) will also occur during certain phases of the project.
- Scaffolding has been erected on all sides of the building from the ground level to the roof.
- Plympton Street will remain open to traffic for the duration of the project via a single travel lane, however, the public parking spaces on Plympton Street will not be accessible during the project. Signs are posted.
- The full width of the section of Bow Street in front of Russell Hall and Westmorly Court is 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 has been returned to one-way west travel for the duration of the project.
- Pedestrian access is being maintained throughout the areas of Bow and Plympton Streets, keeping at least one sidewalk open on each street. Detour signage is in place when pedestrians need to be re-routed.
- Any closures 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. does 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.
