BRA Approves Harvard University's Science, Engineering Complex

A rendering of Harvard University’s Science-Engineering complex on its Allston campus.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority gave the green light to nine projects late last week, the largest being Harvard University ‘s $1-billion redevelopment of Western Avenue in Allston. The BRA approved Harvard University’s Science and Engineering complex to be built on Western Ave. According to BRA documents, the project totals 556,850 square feet of lab, classroom and office space. The university broke ground on what was originally to be the home of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in 2007. Work was completed on the foundation of the project at that time but work was suspended on the development in 2009 because of financial constraints. In November 2015 Harvard announced changes to the original project and began working with the BRA and the community to review the Science and Engineering Complex. The centerpiece of the project, known as the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences , will provide lab, classroom, teaching, and office space for dozens of faculty and hundreds of researchers when completed. The complex, designed with a focus on sustainability by Behnisch Architekten , will include a district energy facility, as well as streetscape and open space improvements for the neighborhood. According to documents filed by Harvard University with the BRA, the complex is comprised of two components, a single building fronting on Western Avenue and the renovation and reuse of the existing 114 Western Ave. The building program calls for 209,000 square feet of dedicated laboratory space, 20,600 square feet of administration-related space, 32,700 square feet of amenities/retail; 143,050 square feet of atrium/circulation and 72,500 square feet of teaching space. “Consisting of three laboratory ‘blocks’ and an exterior quadrangle, the SEC will span up to six floors above-grade, with two additional levels below ground at the courtyard level,” Harvard University states in filings with the BRA. “The interior of the SEC will open to the courtyard, featuring recessed gardens that provide light into the lower floors of the building and accessible terraces with ample greenery and seating. Research labs will comprise a mix of wet and dry spaces with both open lab research areas and enclosed specialty and core facilities.” Research at the complex will range from robotics prototyping to materials synthesis. In addition, core facilities at the Allston facilities could biological characterization, and machine fabrication shops. The construction scheduled for the science and engineering complex calls for work to begin in the summer of this year and construction on the above-grade steel framework to commence in the fall of this year. Harvard U. expects the complex to be finished and occupied in the fall of 2020. In addition to the Science and Engineering Complex, the BRA board also approved last Thursday Harvard University’s $183.5-million renovation plan for the Soldiers Field Park Housing complex , which was constructed in 1976 and houses more than 700 graduate students. The BRA board approved the construction of a two-phased $171-million project known as Klarman Hall and G2 Pavilion, which will replace the existing Burden Hall on the 358-acre Harvard Business School campus in Allston. The other most significant project to secure approval from the BRA last week was the $31.2-million Cote Village project. The plan calls for 76 units of housing, comprised of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The Cote Village project will redevelop the site of the former Cote Ford car dealership in Mattapan. When completed, the new development will feature a five-story building with 68 affordable units, 56 of which will be restricted to households at or below 60% of area median income, with another 12 units restricted to households at or below 80% AMI. The eight other units in the development will be market rate townhouses. The city and state are helping to finance Cote Village through a combination of tax credits and loans, as well as a $750,000 award from the Neighborhood Housing Trust and $4.8-million from the Inclusionary Development Policy fund.