Harvard Removes Scaffolding at Allston Science Complex Construction Site

Harvard’s construction workers began removing the temporary scaffolding around the Allston Science Complex construction site yesterday, marking the first phase of the University’s plan to beautify the perimeter of the area following the indefinite construction halt announced in December.

The new landscape design is intended to address community concerns regarding the unattractiveness of the construction site, which Allston residents believe could remain barren for at least a decade.

University officials confirmed yesterday that tearing down the scaffolding is a preliminary step in its plans for a larger design.

“We’re starting to remove the sidewalk shelter as presented in the construction mitigation meeting last week,” University spokeswoman Lauren Marshall said in an e-mailed statement. “It represents the beginning stages to the perimeter improvements that were presented.”

The plan, which was announced at the Harvard Construction Management Sub-Committee’s meeting last Wednesday, involves replacing the current scaffolding around the perimeter of the construction site with a more permanent wooden fence.

The wooden fence will vary in height, ranging from six to twelve feet “to create some visual interest,” according to James Royce, a Stephen Stimson Associates landscape architect Harvard hired for the project.

In addition to removing the fence, Harvard will beautify the site by planting native perennial shrubs such as winterberry and red twig dogwood, as well as trees including river birches and red maples.

Harvard also plans to create more parking space to accommodate future tenants that the University hopes to bring to its vacant properties in Allston, addressing a concern residents have had about the availability of parking.

—Staff writer Sofia E. Groopman can be reached at segroopm@fas.harvard.edu.