Extensive Renovation Project on William James Plaza To Continue Through Spring 2026

Harvard began construction on the William James Plaza at the start of this year, launching the first major renovation project in the building’s more than 60 year history.

The nearly two-year project, which is expected to conclude in spring 2026, is designed to address structural challenges and improve accessibility.

“The primary goals of the project are the replacement of waterproofing and concrete pavers and improved accessibility at Kirkland Street,” Harvard College spokesperson Jonathan Palumbo wrote.

William James — built in 1963 from the designs of architect Minoru Yamasaki — houses Harvard’s Psychology, Social Studies, and Sociology departments. Palumbo wrote that the plaza’s waterproofing layer “reached the end of its useful life,” damaging interior finishes and concrete structural components in the basement.

Palumbo added that the upgrades are designed to enhance accessibility, including the addition of two new accessible walkways that will provide direct access to the main entry.

The renovations will also include concrete pavers.

“The pavers will be removable to provide access to the waterproofing for ease of maintenance,” Palumbo wrote.

The project will completely replace the existing cast-in-place concrete plaza with removable concrete pavers, selected to match the original design closely.

Alongside these structural upgrades, the renovations will introduce landscaped zones to soften the building’s base and reduce the wind-tunnel effect at street level. Internally, improvements will be limited to concrete and cosmetic repairs, including a new interior vestibule at the Kirkland Street entrance.

Throughout the design process, the renovation team worked closely with the Cambridge Historical Commission to ensure compatibility with Yamasaki’s original vision. According to Palumbo, the Commission reviewed more than a dozen mockups on site before the final paver mix was selected and approved.

Despite the extensive construction, Palumbo wrote that the College is working proactively to minimize disturbances for students and staff. The FAS registrar was notified in 2023 about the renovations so that classes could be relocated before construction began, according to Palumbo.

The Office of Physical Resources and Planning has coordinated with the FAS Registrar to take the basement and first-floor classrooms offline through the fall semester of 2025. Other areas of the building remain occupied throughout the construction period, with only isolated work occurring in the basement.

While Palumbo wrote the renovations are expected to conclude by spring 2026, he acknowledged that unexpected delays are always a possibility.

“It is always possible to encounter unforeseen conditions that lead to delays,” he wrote. “The project did extensive due diligence during the preconstruction phase to minimize this possibility.”

Before the renovations started, Harvard facilitated several sample test cuts and exploratory openings to assess the structure’s preexisting condition. The University also conducted pretests for hazardous materials in the building.

—Staff writer Bianca G. Ciubancan can be reached at bianca.ciubancan@thecrimson.com.

—Staff writer Mohan A. Hathi can be reached at mohan.hathi@thecrimson.com.