By Lindsey Coulter

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Construction of the new American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University recently marked a major construction milestone with the ceremonial topping out of the new David E. and Stacey L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance. The A.R.T. plans to welcome audiences in early 2027.

Located in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, the new home for the A.R.T. was designed to foster groundbreaking performance, public gathering, teaching and international research. The Goel Center for Creativity & Performance is designed by Haworth Tompkins (architect and design lead) and ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge (architect of record), in collaboration with theater and acoustic consultant Charcoalblue. Shawmut Design and Construction serves as the project’s construction manager.

“Reaching the topping off milestone on the new home of the American Repertory Theater is an incredible moment for everyone involved in bringing this visionary project to life,” said Kevin Sullivan, Executive Vice President of Shawmut Design and Construction’s New England Region. “This structure represents both a remarkable technical achievement and a new benchmark for sustainable, low-carbon construction. Raising the final piece of the mass timber structure not only marks the next chapter in the A.R.T.’s story, but also stands as a symbol of innovation, collaboration, and community impact that will define this building for decades to come.”

Conceived through core principles of openness, artistic flexibility, collaboration, sustainability, and regenerative design, the Goel Center will provide interconnected, adaptable, multi-use spaces that support creativity and embrace future change. It will include two flexible performance venues — one seating 700 guests and capable of hosting large-scale productions as well as a versatile and intimate 300-seat black box theater. Additional spaces will include light-filled rehearsal studios and teaching spaces, a spacious public lobby, a café, and an outdoor performance yard. The building will also include dressing rooms, technical shops and administrative offices

A blend of peer review and scientific contributions from across Harvard University informed a rigorous design process. Members of The Harvard Healthy Buildings Academy, the Harvard Office for Sustainability, the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Health, the Arnold Arboretum, and the Harvard Graduate School of Design each contributed to the project.

The center advances Harvard’s ambitious sustainability priorities and is designed with a blend of environmental and social strategies to minimize embodied and operational carbon, maximize wellbeing, boost biodiversity and enhance resiliency. This holistic approach to sustainable and regenerative design sets up the Goel Center to achieve Living Building Challenge Core accreditation from the International Living Future Institute, recognizing that it gives more to its environment than it takes.

A key driver of this commitment is the use of low-carbon, responsibly sourced materials. The building is constructed with laminate mass timber, reclaimed brick and cedar cladding to minimize its lifetime carbon budget. More than 2,000 individual mass timber components have been installed, including columns, beams, floors, walls, stairways and elevator shafts.

“We’re celebrating not just the placement of the final piece of mass timber but also the 50% point of construction.” said Susan Malaab, Senior Project Manager with Harvard Capital Projects. “The planning for the A.R.T. performance center began in 2018 with workshops that prioritized the goals of the project. Flexibility, public gathering, accessibility and a model of sustainability would shape the design. The design and construction team formed a partnership to reach those goals while maintaining the scope and budgetary requirements. The construction of the building will support the incremental expansion of the innovation ecosystem for the arts in Allston.”

The building’s chilled water, hot water and electric utilities will be supplied by Harvard’s new lower-carbon District Energy Facility. Additional clean energy will be generated by rooftop solar panels, while natural ventilation will reduce energy use and enhance occupant comfort. A green roof and extensive plantings will aid stormwater attenuation, increase biodiversity, and promote occupant wellbeing.

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SAVANNAH, Ga.—From an educational idea has sprouted—or “stemmed”—a new science educational building in this historic oceanside city located in the southeastern corner of the Peach State.

The Savannah Country Day School recently introduced Mingledorff Hall, its new STEM Building, this summer, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by civic leaders, school alumni and staff.Ěý Personnel from Boston-based designer Architectural Resources Cambridge (ARC) and architect of record Hussey Gay Bell—local to Savannah—were also on hand for the reveal.

The 32,000-square-foot Mingledorff Hall is home to an energy learning laboratory, five math classrooms and as many science labs.Ěý The building also hosts new conference spaces, a library as well as various gathering areas that overlook the Savannah Country Day School’s central quad.

“This new state-of-the-art building transforms our campus and provides our students with the learning experiences needed to thrive in the future,” Head of School Kef Wilson said at the ribbon cutting. “We are thrilled with the building’s beautiful, engaging, and adaptable design, and appreciate how it complements the surrounding buildings and our campus context.”

Personnel from ARC explained they were proud to help Country Day continue its tradition of academic excellence as well as to further their mission of boosting the scientific education of the community of southeastern Georgia.Ěý The firm also praised their collaboration with fellow designer Hussey Gay Bell.

“The design challenge was to blend a contemporary state-of-the-art science facility with the traditional Lower and Middle School Buildings,” G. Holmes Bell, IV, CEO & chairman of Hussey Gay Bell, said in a statement to Â鶹¸ŁŔűÍř.Ěý “Our design solution provides a thoughtful hybrid between the traditional architecture of the campus and a contemporary STEM center.”

West Construction Company of Savannah worked as the project’s general contractor.

“Building within an active campus is never easy, but thanks in part to the thoughtful architecture and attentiveness of Hussey Gay Bell and ARC, Mingledorff Hall was completed ahead of schedule and under-budget,” said West Construction President Matt West. “We’re looking forward to watching this state-of-the-art facility serve Savannah Country Day School for generations to come.”

West Construction Company’s other educational projects in Georgia include the St. Francis Xavier School, now under construction, and the SCAD School of Entertainment Arts.

ARC has national expertise in the educational sector, having partnered with over 50 independent school clients. Prior to designing the STEM project, ARC completed a campus master plan for Savannah Country Day School.

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