Lisa Wexler, Elaine Construction president; Professor Jonathan Walton, Harvard Memorial Church; President Faust, Harvard University; Ed Jones, organist and choirmaster, Harvard University; and Charlie Klee, AIA, Payette, project architect
Cambridge, MA – Elaine Construction began work on Harvard University’s Memorial Church, affectionately known as MemChurch. The project includes a significant infrastructure upgrade to introduce a climate control system into the sanctuary, accessibility and safety compliance upgrades, and a reconfigured lower level that will enhance and support the teaching and programmatic mission of the church and the university. Substantial site utility work is underway, necessary to support the infrastructure upgrades.
Elaine’s renovation of this 1932 Shepley Bulfinch, Abbott Building, which was designed and constructed to honor those that died in World War I, required careful segregation of the construction zone from students, faculty, staff, and the thousands of tourists that visit Harvard Yard daily.
Working with Payette in an intense preconstruction effort, Elaine devised an approach to protect the historic architectural millwork, and its famous organs, while sympathetically inserting new systems into the building’s fabric.
“We are honored to have been selected to team with Harvard University and Payette for the renovations and upgrades to such an important and central building to the Harvard Community,” said Lisa Wexler, Elaine Construction president. Elaine is currently underway on a major infrastructure, window replacement, and interior reconfiguration to MIT’s Building 9. Elaine is also at work at Wellesley College’s Founders Hall and Green Hall, a three-phase renovation of the campus’ two oldest buildings.
