Cambridge, MA
Harvard Kennedy School Pavilions
Scope/Solutions
Harvard Kennedy School was looking to reinvent the campus and undertook a major project to add new flexible classrooms and collaboration areas, improve connectivity between the existing buildings, and revive their central courtyard. Three new additions link the existing structures and introduce natural light through the curtain wall facades. SGH provided building enclosure consulting services for the project.
SGH consulted on the building enclosure design for the new additions and the plaza design for the courtyard. Highlights of our work include the following:
- Helped design semi-custom curtain wall with large vertical sunshades, zinc screen walls, and opaque wall systems
- Assisted with system selection and design for the below-grade waterproofing and large green roof/plaza system over the courtyard, which was elevated to add a subterranean space
- Designed expansion joint enclosures, helped develop details to integrate the new enclosure systems with the adjacent existing buildings, and created three-dimensional models to depict the design and sequencing at complex transitions
- Provided construction administration services, including reviewing contractor submittals to compare with design intent; observing the below‑grade waterproofing installation; periodically visiting the site to observe installation of the curtain wall, facade, and roofing systems; conducting field performance testing of the enclosure systems, and helping the contractor address field conditions
1 of 4
Project Summary
2017
Completion Date
126M
Construction Value
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Building Enclosures
Markets
Education
Client(s)
Harvard Kennedy School | CSL Consulting, LLC
Specialized Capabilities
Facades & Glazing | Roofing & Waterproofing
Key team members
Additional Projects
Northeast
University of Massachusetts, Integrated Sciences Complex
SGH consulted on the building enclosure and assisted with structural design of the custom curtain wall systems.
Northeast
Boston University, Tsai Performance Center
SGH analyzed the existing roof and proscenium framing for the new speaker loads, designed structural improvements to the framing, and provided structural construction administration services for the new speaker installation.