BOND Celebrates Topping Off of Longfellow Hall at Harvard Graduate School of Education

(l-r) BOND MEP Estimator Barbara Connolly; BOND Project Executive Rose Conti; BOND Project Manager Michael Bean; BOND Safety Manager Jim O'Neill; BOND Superintendent Paul Heneghan; BOND President Robert Murray; BOND Superintendent Tom Curran; BOND QA/QC Manager Josh Lannen; BOND Field Intern Sean Raftery; BOND Executive Vice President Frank Hayes

BOND, a leading 107-year-old construction management firm and an AGC of Connecticut and Massachusetts member, recently celebrated the topping off ceremony for the 15,000-sq-ft renovation and 5,000-sq-ft vertical expansion of the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s (HGSE) 70,000-sq-ft Longfellow Hall.  The project will create new and revitalized classroom, office and gathering space.

The Longfellow project is the third major step in HGSE’s master plan to develop a more cohesive campus centered on Appian Way.  The project includes critical infrastructure upgrades and adds new sprinkler and fire alarm systems throughout the entire building.  The project will enable HGSE to relocate off-campus research activities and programs in professional education to campus. 

Originally built in 1929 and designed by Perry, Shaw and Hepburn, Longfellow Hall is named after Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of Radcliffe College’s greatest benefactors.  Given the facility’s historic nature and its prominence in the heart of Harvard Square, a rigorous quality control program will ensure the preservation of ornate building interiors throughout construction.

BOND was engaged by HGSE in 2012 to provide in-depth preconstruction services prior to the start of work in the field. Through an extremely collaborative process, BOND, Baker Design Group, and HGSE completed a conceptual study and constructability reviews to finalize the project’s design, maximizing program and minimizing risk for the School.  BOND’s in-house Building Information Modeling (BIM) and laser scanning services provided critical information concerning the facility’s existing conditions, and enabled the team to determine the most viable and efficient execution strategy. 

"BOND is honored to help revitalize this landmark facility on the Harvard Graduate School of Education campus," said Robert Murray, BOND president.  "These improvements will go a long way towards enhancing the school’s services and maintaining its rich history."

"The Topping Off of Longfellow is not only a major milestone for the project, but also for our campus," said Jason Carlson, director of operations for Harvard Graduate School of Education.  "This moment marks our continued forward progress in the development of our campus."

The project is tracking a targeted completion in December 2014, with an expected LEED Gold certification. 

Since 1907 BOND has been involved in some of the region’s most complex vertical and horizontal construction projects. With two distinct groups, operating as construction managers for academic and healthcare clients, and self-performing general contractors for the power and energy industry, BOND is well known for delivering reliable, safe, and high quality work. The Building Division has completed high profile projects such as Harvard University’s Northwest Science Labs and MIT’s famed Media Lab in Cambridge, and the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge for the American Cancer Society in Boston; while the Civil & Utility Division has successfully completed two of the largest regional underground high-voltage electrical transmission line projects in New England’s history. For more information please visit www.bondbrothers.com.

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