CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Nauset Construction recently completed a historic renovation of a six-unit, 15,000-square-foot apartment complex located at 382-392 Harvard Street. Located just off Harvard University’s Harvard Yard, this Queen Anne-style wood-frame structure was built in 1889 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Richard Hapgood House.
The property features six spacious 2,200-square-foot, two-story, three-bedroom suites, each with a private guest bath and an additional half-bath. All units feature open-concept living and dining areas, in-unit laundry, high-end appliances, recessed lighting, and access to outdoor living space including a porch or deck. Nauset worked closely with the entire project team to meet the rigorous renovation standards set by the Cambridge Historical Commission and the National Park Service (NPS), ensuring that the historic character of the building was preserved, while at the same time creating a modern and luxurious building. Suite provided.
This complex renovation, designed by Boyes Watson Architects, began with the demolition of the entire interior, down to the original floor and wall framing and exterior wall cladding, followed by a complete excavation of the basement. . A concrete and steel foundation for the existing fieldstone and brick foundation walls was completed to lower the existing foundation and floor slab to create the required height for the lower living level of the three suites on the ground floor. did. The second floor unit was extended upwards into the former attic space, maximizing the available space within the existing building footprint. The thorough restoration process included leveling and twinning the existing wood-frame flooring assemblies and installing new Advantech subfloor decking throughout the upper three floors before constructing the new interior unit configuration. I did. All units include an all-new fire sprinkler system, new plumbing systems and equipment (including Navien combination boiler/water heater), new HVAC system with HydroAir heating, high-efficiency A/C system, ERV, and new electrical Equipment has been installed. Services, power, lighting and fire alarm systems.
The building’s exterior restoration included all new red cedar siding, wood trim elements, and a composite slate roof. This restoration process required in-house expertise and the manufacture of numerous siding and trim elements that were not commercially available. Also included is the restoration of three original stained glass windows and the renovation of six original wood doors. The building’s intricate porch and other exterior elements required extensive custom woodwork. This includes duplicating the profiles of balusters and columns, as well as brackets and corbels. Additionally, the ornate pattern of the Western Red Cedar shingle siding was hand-reproduced to meet Historical Commission and NPS standards. The renovation also includes the installation of new energy-efficient clad wood windows, along with a new porch and deck.
This historic home is within walking distance of the MBTA subway, Harvard Square, and the Charles River, and boasts a Walk Score of 98 and a Bike Score of 99. The property was completed with the potential for use as housing for Harvard University students. Tenants began moving in in August.
“Renovating an irreplaceable historic asset is a source of pride for our project team,” said Anthony Papantonis, president of Nauset Construction. “This project demonstrates our expertise in managing complex urban landfills with historic renovations, multifamily developments, and zero lot line constraints.”
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