Harvard Moving Forward With Major Student Housing Renovation

Harvard University’s Soliders Field Park in Allston.

BOSTON— Harvard University is moving forward with the planned phased renovation of its Solders Field Park housing complex in Allston. The university filed a Project Notification Form last week with the Boston Redevelopment Authority for the renovation project that involves four buildings that feature 478 units in approximately 423,000 square feet at 111 Western Ave. The renovation program is part of the 10-year Institutional Master Plan for Harvard University’s Campus in Allston that was approved by the Boston Redevelopment Authority in October 2013. “The complex has not been significantly renovated since opening and, as a result, it requires both cosmetic and system upgrades. The vision for the Soldiers Field Park housing complex is to modernize the buildings so that they are able to serve the contemporary needs of residents,” says Kevin Casey , associate VP of public affairs and communications for Harvard University. Although the university does not provide cost estimates for the planned renovations, it does go into specific detail on the planned improvements at the Soldiers Field Park housing complex, which was built in 1974 as housing for Harvard University graduate students. “The project significantly expands the amenity program to promote the well being of residents, with new spaces for collaboration and study, socialization, and fitness. The expansion is achieved by converting existing ground-floor apartments into spaces that include study rooms, conference rooms, a lounge, a fitness center, and a children’s play room, while converting existing upper-floor study lounges to additional bedrooms,” the university states in its March 3 ^rd filing with the BRA. “The expanded amenities will be located on the ground floor of Building 2 along Kresge Way to further activate the edge of this important pedestrian connection. Also along Kresge Way, the existing childcare center on the ground floors of Buildings 1 and 2 is expected to remain, as will the management office on the ground floor of Building 2.” The buildings, which have undergone extensive façade renovations, will have future exterior and landscaping improvements. There will also be a comprehensive renovation of the building systems, including the installation of fire protection (sprinklers) throughout all buildings, modernization of the fire alarm system, and installation of new plumbing and electrical systems as appropriate. Planned interior renovations, according to the university’s BRA filing, include updating apartment layouts to eliminate dedicated dining spaces where they exist, relocating and reconfiguring kitchens so that they are more open to the living areas, and adding in-unit laundry appliances. In addition, kitchen and bathroom plumbing fixtures will be replaced with water efficient models, and all lighting will be replaced with energy-efficient LED luminaires. The scope of the renovation will refurbish or replace nearly every interior material, the university tells the BRA. According to the university’s timeline, it hopes to begin construction on the first phase of the project involving the renovation of Building 4 in June 2016 with completion scheduled in May 2017. Phase two (renovation of Building 3) is slated to proceed in June 2017 and be finished by August 2018. Phase three would start in August 2018 with the renovation of Building 2 completed by November 2019. The start of the final phase would commence upon the scheduled completion of phase three and be finished by September 2020. Northstar Project & Real Estate Services is the owner’s representative on the project.  Elkus Manfredi Architects is the architect. Carol R. Johnson Associates/CRJA-IBI Group is the landscape architect.  VHB Inc . has been hired as the civil engineer and the construction contractor is Shawmut Design and Construction . Goulston & Storrs is serving as the legal counsel on the project for Harvard University.