HBS Adds $100M Dorm; Maverick Square Revival Keeps Rolling

By Veronica Grecu, Associate Editor

Harvard University has received approval from the Boston Redevelopment Authority to build a seven-story dormitory in Allston for Harvard Business School’s executive education program. As reported by the Boston Globe, in the fall of 2010 the business school received a $50 million donation from India’s Tata Group Construction, the largest international gift in Harvard’s history. Construction costs for the 150,000-square-foot facility, to be named Tata Hall, are estimated at $100 million.

Photo by Dongik Lee/ William Rawn Architects

According to city officials quoted by the Globe, the construction will break ground in November. The project will employ 210 construction workers and lead to about 20 permanent jobs after the project is completed in 2013, city officials said. The facility will be located at the northeast corner of the University’s Allston campus and will include 180 units divided into study group suites. Students will have access to kitchens, auditorium-style classrooms and an informal gathering space for recreation and socializing.

East Boston’s Maverick Square has earned a reputation as a troubled urban neighborhood, but the community appears to be in the midst of a revitalization, the Globe reported. A steady stream of investment has followed the completion of the Maverick transit station’s makeover in 2009. The East Boston Neighborhood Health Center plans to build a $24 million facility on a vacant lot near the square. The Heritage Apartments located at 209 Sumner Street will undergo renovation and city officials announced that a $9.4 million affordable complex with 27 units will be developed at 170-172 Maverick Square. A significant reduction in crime, and the opening of new retail and restaurants are helping to transform Maverick Square into a vibrant, attractive residential area.