Client: Harvard University
LOCATION: Cambridge, MA
Size: 20,500sf Scope: RENOVATION
STATUS: completed in 2024
Photography: studio enÉe

Harvard Radcliffe Fay House

Harvard Radcliffe Fay House is a Federal Style structure of approximately 20,570 square feet originally constructed in 1807 with major additions to the building in 1870 and the 1890s. Today it is used as the administrative headquarters of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. The intent of this project reimagined the first floor of Fay House into a welcoming common space, open to all on the Harvard Radcliffe Institute (HRI) campus as a place for students to engage and build community. The renovation activates the space, providing opportunity for informal gathering and interaction, collaboration, and breakout workspaces. The renovation of the Sheerr room seminar and classroom spaces include new finishes, a new stage, and new furniture for virtual seminar and in person style events with stackable and moveable chairs, as well as with tables. Different configurations of the room were studied.

The rooms adjacent to the Sheerr Room and currently off of a common space are proposed to be opened with reconfigured furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E).The common space will also be activated by furniture. Exterior and interior improvements to the Garden street entrance include common areas and a new exterior plaza/terrace with tables and benches to activate this area of the site with exterior programming.