Harvard Square Infill and Small Developments

Harvard can do better. Snohetta did a nice job on the Center for Green Buildings just a half mile away a few years ago.
https://www.snohetta.com/projects/harvard-housezero

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itchy said:
What the hot mess is this new building?

The old building doesn't look very deteriorated in the photos - certainly much less so than 17 Story Street further up in the thread! If that can be rehabbed, so can this.

Even if this building were in bad shape, there is no institution on earth with the same combination of money, facilities /construction management capabilities, and expertise in rehabbing 19th-century New England homes - in other words, if Harvard can't rehab a historic property in decent shape then who on earth can?!

As an organization that doesn't pay taxes because of the supposed civic benefits it confers - and as an organization that builds some of the worst modern architecture in the Northeast US - Harvard is making a mess of things here and should be ashamed of itself.
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If you'd like, the first 20 or so pages of the presentation to the Historical Commission covers the issues - from the outside it looks OK, but structurally even to a layman its a hot mess. They'd basically have to rebuild it from the inside out, which they still might have to do - despite harvard only buying it in 2023, this little cluster has preexisting permanent facade preservation restrictions.
 
Bananarama said:
Harvard can do better. Snohetta did a nice job on the Center for Green Buildings just a half mile away a few years ago.
https://www.snohetta.com/projects/harvard-housezero

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They have also done better in the few times that theyve just handed the keys to Robert Stern and said “here”. Theres around 5 buildings he built on campus from like the late 90’s to late 2000’s that most people dont even know are new additions. They should go full steam ahead with that approach.. in my opinion.
 
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Stlin said:
If you'd like, the first 20 or so pages of the presentation to the Historical Commission covers the issues - from the outside it looks OK, but structurally even to a layman its a hot mess. They'd basically have to rebuild it from the inside out, which they still might have to do - despite harvard only buying it in 2023, this little cluster has preexisting permanent facade preservation restrictions.
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No developer on earth who wants to bulldoze an old building ever produces a report saying the old building is in good shape. "Structural issues" is the biggest weasel term there is - a developer (which Harvard is) can always find someone willing to make that claim.
 
cooper said:
Still no drawings found on the new econ building. Hopefully, whatever is built there complements the beauty of Austin Hall.

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Please see below from the dedicated thread. Unfortunately your hopes are likely in vain.
Stlin said:
They've been playing it super close to the chest. As far as I'm aware the only render that has been published was as part of the 2024 Town-Gown report and presentation, released in February.
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Not exactly in the square but couldn’t find another thread. William James Hall. Whats with all that tarp structure? They have to keep the area dry? I think they’re doing basement work. Either way, great to get some big trees in front of the building. It used to be a very underused concrete platform running all across the front. Should be good shade in the summer now too.

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Dr. Rosen Rosen said:
Not exactly in the square but couldn’t find another thread. William James Hall. Whats with all that tarp structure? They have to keep the area dry? I think they’re doing basement work. Either way, great to get some big trees in front of the building. It used to be a very underused concrete platform running all across the front. Should be good shade in the summer now too.

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https://construction.harvard.edu/cu.../william-james-hall-plaza-renovation-project/
The scope of this project includes replacing the original waterproofing underneath the plaza pavers, installing new pavers, making sustainable landscape improvements, and improving building accessibility to and from Kirkland Street.
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The tent is likely to keep temperatures warm enough for concrete and waterproofing materials, usually around 40-50 F, plus a few % contingency, and for workers.
 
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