Harvard Quantum Initiative Construction Set to be Completed in the Spring

Construction on 60 Oxford Street — the new home of the Harvard Quantum Initiative in Science and Engineering — is set to be completed this spring, in accordance with its expected timeline.

The building is being converted into a laboratory building to house the graduate studies program for the initiative and is intended to leverage the “second quantum revolution,” according to HQI.

The newly launched program includes faculty from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Sciences Division of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Originally built by Perry Dean Rogers Partners Architects as part of the University’s North Yard Lab Campus, 60 Oxford street began as a Harvard data center used by SEAS. According to FAS spokesperson Holly J. Jensen, the departments who used the building were relocated prior to construction.

The construction, which began in 2022, includes renovations of the building’s interior and mechanical systems. Jensen wrote in an email that some of the renovations to the space include research infrastructure for high performance optic labs, improved accessibility, and new teaching spaces.

According to Jensen, the building’s designers — Payette Architects – collaborated closely with faculty and staff from HQI. The project includes energy savings and sustainability features and designers are pursuing certifications from a sustainability non-profit.

According to Payette, some of these features include more sustainable vibration criteria, better temperature and light control, and the elimination of glass surfaces.

In addition to housing the HQI, 60 Oxford St. will also support a number of other research projects. The Rowland Institute, a research institute for early-career scientists, will be relocating from East Cambridge.

The space will also include teaching laboratories, office spaces, and meeting rooms.

When completed, the renovation will provide a designated space for the HQI, which is currently spread over a number of buildings. The University hopes the space will “establish a new center for interdisciplinary research which will bring together scientists and engineers across sectors - universities, the private sector, and government,” according to filings with the City of Cambridge.

—Staff Writer Danielle J. Im can be reached at danielle.im@thecrimson.com.

—Staff writer Jackson C. Sennott can be reached at jackson.sennott@thecrimson.com.