Kendall Common ( née Volpe Redevelopment) | Kendall Sq | Cambridge

July 23, 2025:

20250723_201457.jpg
 
Are there firm updates on the further phases and if everything is approved? I'm not finding info on this in here or online, and would really appreciate clarification 😌

I've found there's phase 2 and 3 which will have substantial residential, including R3 which looks planned to be 400 ft+.

That being said, I think this project is probably one of the biggest ones to watch in Boston for a while
 
She's officially on her way down folks. Saw this silhouette through the screening and heard audible jackhammering:
vp_kc-1-1.jpg


So I checked the project updates site (https://www.kendallcommonconstruction.com/updates), and here's the status:
  • Structural demolition is underway on the roof of the former Volpe tower building. Material will be removed from the building with a crane and through interior elevator shafts.
  • The formwork/scaffolding climbing system is in operation on the tower building and is being moved up to the rooftop level. The week of August 11, the contractor will commence demolition on the brick façade using handheld jackhammers.
Click to expand...
 
They really are following the David Macaulay Unbuilding playbook. Except for attempting to rebuild it in the Middle East.
 
stefal said:
Does anybody know the CM for this?
Click to expand...
It's Moriarty for the 75 Broadway portion (new Biogen HQ, bottom left of Random's image).
www.jm-a.com

Biogen's New HQ | John Moriarty & Associates

MITIMCO to Develop New Biogen Headquarters at 75 Broadway in Cambridge Biogen Inc. has announced plans to move its global headquarters to 75 Broadway in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This decision is part of a broader initiative to consolidate its operations in the state and enhance collaboration...
www.jm-a.com www.jm-a.com

I am not sure if they are managing the entire kendall common projects / tower demo as well.
 
RandomWalk said:
...They’re using a little from column A, B, and C for the Biogen site work.
Click to expand...
The portion of your photo where the sheet piling is being installed is actually the footprint of the tall residential tower. The Biogen building's footprint appears to be the slurrywall portion.

This raises many interesting questions, such as whether they're already doing foundation work for the residential tower...and, I'd surmise, that has a shallower basement than the Biogen building, hence the different technqiues
 
bigpicture7 said:
The portion of your photo where the sheet piling is being installed is actually the footprint of the tall residential tower. The Biogen building's footprint appears to be the slurrywall portion.

This raises many interesting questions, such as whether they're already doing foundation work for the residential tower...and, I'd surmise, that has a shallower basement than the Biogen building, hence the different technqiues
Click to expand...
Ok because apparently I am a glutton for the punishment of dumpster-diving through random city special permit files...we have our answer:

Parking for Building C3 will be accommodated in the below-grade garage. Vehicles will access the underground garage via the ramp on Potter Street, located in the footprint of the future R3 residential building. Consistent with the approved PUD, loading facilities will be at grade and accessible from Kendall Way...
Click to expand...
From (pg. 5):

^As also supported by site master plan info:
(Potter St. is the street atop this image)
c3_entry.jpg

^From: https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media...lPermits/sp368/sp368_appgraphic2_20210603.pdf

Conclusion: Building C3 (Biogen HQ @ 75 Broadway) does not have its own vehicular access. Such is, instead, through the base of the future R3 residential tower. So they need to be doing at least some work on the base of R3 as part of this phase, hence what we're seeing with the pile driving work in the area of R3's footprint in @RandomWalk's photo.
 
Given the tower in the park layout, it seems like implosion might have been doable. I would love to know the discussion that led to the decision to slowly jackhammer the building.
 
RandomWalk said:
Given the tower in the park layout, it seems like implosion might have been doable. I would love to know the discussion that led to the decision to slowly jackhammer the building.
Click to expand...
MIT is literally running this demolition and MIT does not like ground vibrations near labs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FK4
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top