News Summary
Harvard University has begun renovations at Eliot House, causing severe noise disruptions for residents of Kirkland House. The construction, part of a house renewal initiative, is expected to last until 2027, affecting the daily lives and study habits of nearby students. Despite implementing noise-reduction measures, frustrations are mounting due to the sustained disturbances. Students are concerned about the prolonged impact of the renovations, which include extensive demolition and infrastructure separation, with some construction activities allowed until late evening hours.
Cambridge – Renovations at Harvard University’s Eliot House have commenced, initiating disruptions for the nearby Kirkland House residents. The renovations, part of Harvard’s House Renewal program, began in early June 2023 and are projected to last until 2027, resulting in persistent and significant noise disturbances.
The construction noise is particularly disruptive for Kirkland House residents, as it can be heard from early morning until nearly midnight. Reports indicate that the loud demolition noise affects the entire Kirkland dining hall and residents’ dormitories. Students have described the noise intensity as severe enough to cause vibrations in floors. The construction team is currently focused on demolishing the tunnel that connects Eliot and Kirkland, a process expected to finish by the end of September 2023.
Alongside the tunnel demolition, the renovation’s initial phase entails the separation of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems of Eliot and Kirkland, which previously shared these infrastructures. This phase also encompasses extensive interior demolition work, roof repairs, chimney repairs, and improvements to the brick siding at Eliot House. However, students living in Kirkland House have raised concerns about how these ongoing disturbances are impacting their daily routines and study habits.
Concerns have been intensified by a letter from Harvard House Renewal managers indicating that noisy construction activities might continue into 2024, compounding frustrations among Kirkland residents. In an effort to mitigate the disruptions, Harvard House Renewal has implemented certain measures. They have indicated that several dormitories located on the south side of Kirkland House, nearest to Eliot, will remain unoccupied to reduce exposure to construction noise. Additionally, noise-dampening storm windows and window air conditioners have been installed in the dorms that face Eliot House to help alleviate the disturbances.
Most notably, Harvard House Renewal operating hours are in line with Cambridge city law, which limits audible construction to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, with construction permitted on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, Harvard plans to extend working hours from Monday to Friday, allowing construction work to continue until 11:00 p.m., where loud noise activities are expected to cease by 5:00 p.m. Some work may also occur on weekends, provided it receives prior approval.
Interior demolition at Eliot House is forecasted to extend through March 2024, while the roof and masonry work is set to continue into the fall of 2026. This lengthy timeline leaves Kirkland residents with ongoing noise disruptions for the foreseeable future, as renovations in their own house remain scheduled for several years down the line. Overall, the feedback from students reflects a significant level of frustration regarding the incessant construction noise, with some expressing a desire for a more peaceful living environment without the disturbance of construction.
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Additional Resources
- The Crimson: Kirkland Renovations Noise
- Harvard Square: Kiosk Plaza Construction Update
- Axios: Harvard Square Punk ‘The Pit’ Demolished
- CBS News: The Pit in Harvard Square
- The Crimson: The Pit Demolished
- Wikipedia: Harvard University
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Harvard University
- Google Search: Harvard renovations
- Google Scholar: Harvard construction impact
- Google News: Harvard University renovation news
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