What’s Black and Purple on Albany Street? The New Student Residence!
It’s hard to miss the new student residence as you walk down Albany Street. Even in the rain the structure appears as a purple-blue and black façade against the clouds. The installation of the extended exposure sheathing, which gives the building its new temporary color, is complete. The air vapor barrier, which is black is being installed on top of the purple sheathing. The sheathing panels are moisture and mold resistant material that attach to the outside of sidewall framing, and serve as a water resistant underlayment for exterior materials including masonry bricks, which are part of the outside skin of the structure. Masonry work will begin on the west side of the building during the week of September 12, weather permitting. In addition 224 operable windows for the residence have been delivered.
More Progress!
The Boston Redevelopment Authority has given approval on the mockup of the exterior finishes of the residence. Rigging for the fire pump, which pumps water through the fire protection sprinkler lines, has been completed. The penthouse roof is complete. The interior elevator shaft wall will be completed this week.
Both stairwell standpipes should be completed by the end of this week. The standpipes deliver water from the fire pump to the sprinkler lines on all floors. Interior wall framing has begun on the 8th and 9th floors, and weather permitting, work on the exterior precast band on the east side of the residence will begin the week of September 12. Work is scheduled to start on the installation of the main roof during the middle of September.
The Structure
The nine-story, $40 million structure is designed by Beacon Architectural Associates with a brick and limestone façade. Its 104 two-bedroom suites that include bath, kitchenette and living spaces will accommodate 208 students, each with individual bedrooms, the standard for graduate student housing. Walsh Brothers is the contractor for the building, which is expected to take 18 months to complete.
Click below to see recent updates on the student residence construction.