Harvard to Begin Construction on New Native American Program Home This Spring

The Harvard University Native American Program plans to break ground this spring on a new three-story, all-electric building at 15 Mount Auburn St., expanding the University’s central hub for Native American academic and community life.

The facility will replace HUNAP’s longtime home at 14 Story St., where the program has been based since 2007, and “will be fully operational” for the 2027-28 academic year, according to a Harvard spokesperson.

The new building is intended as a central gathering space for a growing community of Native American and Indigenous affiliates, as Harvard faces ongoing criticism for falling short on reconciliation and repatriation efforts.

HUNAP, a cross-school initiative, coordinates research, teaching, and cultural programming across Harvard’s schools. Its work spans Native American studies, history, and cultural engagement, including academic programming, community events, research and travel grants, and tribal diplomacy efforts.

The proposed 6,500-square-foot building — which will be fully accessible — includes a mix of offices, lounges, kitchens, and a conference room. The first floor will include a reception lounge, meeting spaces, and both a covered front porch and rear deck, while upper floors will house offices and lounges. A newly constructed basement will provide storage, circulation, and mechanical space. Outdoor areas — including private side and backyard spaces — are intended for ceremonies and cultural programming.

The building’s design draws on Native materials and symbolism. Its exterior facade is inspired by tree bark and wampum, purple and white beads traditionally used in jewelry and ceremonial practices.

The project follows Harvard’s 2023 acquisition of the property and an extensive feasibility review that found the existing structure — an 1873 mansard building — too deteriorated to renovate.

In a report to the City of Cambridge, engineers identified significant issues, including structurally compromised building beams, water infiltration in the basement, a leaking roof, and ceiling heights that fall short of modern code requirements. Geotechnical testing also revealed deficiencies in the foundation that would require substantial reconstruction.

This internal study concluded that because of those flaws, renovation would “essentially require the construction of a new building within the shell of the existing building.”

As a result, demolition and full reconstruction emerged as the preferred path forward. The project has received approval from the Harvard Square Advisory Committee and a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Cambridge Historical Commission. It remains in the city’s permitting process.

The site itself presents additional constraints. A public walkway connecting Arrow Street to Mount Auburn Street bisects the property, and adjacent buildings sit in close proximity. The project also includes public realm improvements, such as upgraded sidewalks, native plantings, and protections for street trees.

—Staff writer Samuel S. Rudavsky can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @samrudavsky.