Cambridge, MA

Harvard Kennedy School Pavilions

Scope/Solutions
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Project Summary

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