Harvard Outlines Development, Sustainability Efforts in 29th Annual ‘Town Gown’ Report

Harvard officials on Tuesday outlined the University’s latest development and sustainability initiatives in Cambridge and Allston as part of the 29th annual Town Gown report, with a renewed focus on decarbonization and campus renovations.

The report, assembled by the Cambridge Community Development Department, includes data from Harvard, Lesley University, Cambridge College, and MIT. Representatives from the universities and the CDD presented the findings to the Cambridge Planning Board, highlighting how the institutions engage with the city beyond their campuses.

Harvard’s report detailed ongoing development efforts across the 16 million square feet of land the University holds in the city. This year’s report focused largely on renovation and sustainability efforts.

The Town Gown process — which refers to the relationship between Cambridge and its academic institutions — has been conducted annually since 1997.

Harvard representatives presented plans for the University to reach fossil fuel neutrality by the end of 2026, with the ultimate goal of becoming fossil fuel-free by 2050.

Heather A. Henriksen, Harvard’s chief sustainability officer, outlined progress toward those goals, citing the addition of 18 electric vehicles to the University’s fleet last year, including passenger vans and a pickup truck.

Henriksen said Harvard’s broader decarbonization strategy combines immediate changes to ongoing construction projects with long-term research.

“As we look to get to zero fossil fuels, and we’re doing multi-year deep engineering studies on both our district energy and buildings,” she said, “we’re working to seize opportunities in our current projects.”

Alexandra J. Offiong, Harvard’s director of planning services, provided updates on several construction projects, including the final phase of the multibillion-dollar renovation of the University’s 12 upperclassmen Houses.

Under Harvard’s Sustainability Building Standards, fossil fuels are prohibited in new buildings constructed after 2024, a policy that applies to the ongoing restorations of Adams and Eliot Houses.

Offiong also highlighted Pritzker Hall, the future home of the Economics Department, which she said will be the first fully electric major academic building on Harvard’s campus once completed.

Beyond construction, the report detailed community benefits provided by the University, including afterschool programs, publicly accessible spaces, and partnerships with local organizations.

Offiong detailed a collaboration with the Harvard Coop to reenvision the former Coop annex building as a mixed use project with opportunities for public art and performances.

“The intent is really to foster well being and community and collaboration,” Offiong said.

Representatives for Harvard also pointed to a slew of initiatives to address food insecurity, provide pro-bono legal services through a program at Harvard Law School, and to engage with Cambridge Public School students.

Thomas J. Lucey, Harvard’s director of government and community relations, outlined specific programs within CPS to address longstanding achievement gaps.

“We work with Cambridge Public School leaders to ensure that all students have unique experiences and multiple paths to achieve academic success,” Lucey said.

“Harvard programs are in every single CPS school, ranging from curriculum-based initiatives that benefit all students at various grade levels, to the high school summer school, to internships in Harvard Labs, to programs that address achievement gaps,” he added.

Purnima Kapur, Harvard’s chief of university planning and design, emphasized the importance of Cambridge to the University’s mission.

“Since its founding in 1636, our mission has been rooted in serving the common good through teaching, learning, and discovery, and Cambridge has been its historic, dynamic, and vital heart,” she said.

“Harvard looks forward to continuing to serve the residents of Cambridge through these and other initiatives in the years to come,” she added.

—Staff writer Maya Fu can be reached at [email protected].

—Staff writer Risha Sinha can be reached at [email protected].