Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center (SCC)

Renovation

Client: Central Administration
Design Architect: Hopkins Architects
Architect of Record: Bruner|Cott & Associates
Contractor: Consigli Construction
Façade Project Size: 155,000 SF
Renovation Project Size: 170,000 SF
Completed: September, 2018

Opening in the fall of 2018, the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center (SCC) will be a dynamic center of University life, enabling the greater Harvard community to come together in new and exciting ways. Harvard Capital Projects managed simultaneous renovations of this occupied, historic landmark building in the heart of the square. The Josep Lluís Sert structure is a ten-story, H-shaped concrete building with two stories below-grade and includes retail, administrative offices, Health Services, and public parking. All programs have remained fully functional during the interior and exterior construction. This major renovation of the first, second, and tenth floors, as well as the façade restoration, started in the fall of 2015. Construction has proceeded rapidly to provide outdoor terraces and light-filled interior spaces for relaxation, studying, informal gathering, and exciting new food venues. The project will also facilitate programs and events open to students, faculty, staff, and the public. A completely renovated façade will be the backdrop for newly designed outdoor plazas with café seating, chess tables, new lighting, and new trees.

The SCC renovation is pursuing LEED v4 and was also the pilot project under the Harvard Healthier Building Materials Academy, a unique living laboratory partnership between Harvard’s Office for Sustainability and faculty researchers at the Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment focused on collaborating with the University’s project management community to identify and source healthier building materials and products that are manufactured without certain harmful chemical classes of concern.