Harvard’s Allston Campus Expansion
Turner Construction: Harvard’s Allston Science Complex Project
Site Visit
14 November 2008
The ASCE Student Chapter was fortunate enough to be granted the opportunity to go on a site visit to Harvard’s Allston Project, where they are in the first stage of their 50 year master plan. The first stage consists of the construction of a new science complex that will attain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification. Before going on site, the student chapter lecture series had heard from Maureen McDonough, a Harvard Representative on the project, and George Gaughan, who is part of Turner Construction’s project team, and both times they talked about the logistics behind a project of this magnitude.
Upon arriving on site, we had to put on the typical construction site safety gear, which included a hardhat and florescent vest. Next we were finally able to see the true magnitude of this project. It is a 6.3 acre hole that is about 3 stories deep, with a slurry wall lining the entire parameter of the hole. The slurry wall was constructed by 114 panel pours which is equal to 2148 linear feet, and inside this slurry wall there are 1669 tiebacks that are 80 feet long. This system was used to keep the earth back while they work inside the hole constructing the mat slabs, permanent concrete foundation, and structural steel erection.
Logistically this site is incredibly complicated because there is a need to orchestrate the excavation, concrete pours, and panel erection for the foundation all at the same time. Also, the only means of egress in and out of the hole are staging stairs for the workers and cranes for bringing any equipment or materials into the hole. Hopefully, if the logistics work out the project is slated to finish September 2011.
Special thanks to Ryan Snow, our Secretary, for the write up.