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Taylor Square Fire Station Improvement Project

Project Image

As part of the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan, the Taylor Square Firehouse will be undergoing several improvements beginning in Spring 2019. This construction is anticipated to take 12 months to complete. The firehouse crew will be relocated during the construction. 

Construction Notice: Renovation of the Taylor Square Firehouse will resume on June 1st, 2020

The Contractor has been advised of the City’s construction safety requirements in order to safely start work. The City/DPW will be monitoring the contractors safety program.

The delay experienced was due to a construction moratorium imposed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on March 20, 2020. As a result of this, the contractor is assessing whether the project will be completed as originally scheduled.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Robert Juusola, DPW Project Manager
Call: 617-352-3303
Email: rjuusola@cambridgema.gov


Drilling of Geothermal Wells Beginning Friday, November 15th

The City's drilling contractor, Skillings and Sons, will be mobilizing the drill rig on Thursday, November 14th, and plans to start drilling the three geothermal wells on Friday November 15th.
Seismographs have been set up to monitor vibration 24/7. GZA, the pre-construction consultant, has notified legal abutters about property surveys by certified mail to offer videotaped pre-construction surveys. 

What to expect during this work:

  • Work will be loud at times and will cause vibrations in the area. 
  • Vibration monitors will be active 24/7 to ensure vibrations are kept at safe levels.
  • Work hours are 7AM-3:30PM, Monday through Friday

Community Meeting Notice: Taylor Square Firehouse Altercation Project, Andrew Peabody School, 70 Rindge Ave.

On Thursday, September 12, 2019 from 7:00-8:00pm, the Department of Public Works will be hosting a Community Meeting for the Taylor Square Firehouse Alteration Project at the Andrew Peabody Elementary School, Auditorium, 70 Rindge Ave., Cambridge, MA.

The City of Cambridge Fire Dept. Administration, City staff, Boston Building and Bridge, the contractor, and HKT Architects will discuss alterations to the Taylor Square Firehouse at 113 Garden Street.  Construction is anticipated to begin in September 2019 and last approximately 10 months.

The first Public Meeting was held on January 29, 2019, where a general introduction to the project was provided and some of the challenges to the neighborhood discussed, most importantly the vibration and noise from concrete apron demolition to accommodate the installation of three geothermal wells, a sustainable energy alternative to fossil fuels.

This upcoming meeting will discuss third party inspections of neighboring buildings to document existing conditions, which is useful in the unlikely event there is damage due to any property due to the excavation, drilling, or vibration from this project.  A brief presentation will be given, followed by a comment, question and answer period.  We encourage you to attend, as we value the feedback we receive from Cambridge residents and businesses.

The project generally consists of:

  • Roof replacement including a 24kW solar photovoltaic array
  • Ground source heat pumps including drilling three new wells at the firehouse apron.
  • Upgrade to the electrical service, including the emergency generator
  • Second floor window replacement
  • Painting exterior trim
  • Accessibility upgrades for public access
  • Masonry work at rear egress stair
  • Interior water and electrical saving measures

It is necessary to temporarily relocate the Taylor Square Firehouse crew in order to complete this work. A nearby site has been selected, which provides allowable response times to this firehouse’s normally assigned response area.

Information and Assistance:

The City of Cambridge does not discriminate on the basis of disability.   The City of Cambridge will provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative format, and reasonable modifications in policies upon request.  For more information on this project, please contact Robert Juusola at the Department of Public Works at rjuusola@cambridgema.gov / 617.349.4884. 


Construction Notice: Exploratory work taking place on Friday, May 17

This Friday, 5/17/19 our contractor, Boston Building and Bridge, will be on site at the Taylor Square Fire House to dig a test well for the geothermal wells that are part of the larger construction project beginning in August 2019. The location of the test well is on the apron in front of the left overhead door. It is anticipated this work will take approximately 8 hours.


Community Meeting Notice: Taylor Square Firehouse Alteration Project, Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Lower Level Auditorium, Parking is available for a small fee in the library garage. Tuesday, January 29, 2019, 7:00-8:00 PM

On Tuesday, January 29, 2019 from 7:00-8:00pm, the Department of Public Works will be hosting a Community Meeting in the Lower Level Auditorium at the Cambridge Main Library located at 449 Broadway.
City staff will be holding a public meeting to discuss alterations to the Taylor Square Firehouse at 113 Garden Street. Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2019 and last approximately 12 months.
The project generally consists of:
  • Roof replacement including a 24kW solar photovoltaic array
  • Ground source heat pumps including drilling three new wells at the firehouse apron.
  • Upgrade to the electrical service, including the emergency generator
  • Second floor window replacement
  • Painting exterior trim
  • Accessibility upgrades for public access
  • Masonry work at rear egress stair
  • Interior water and electrical saving measures
It is necessary to temporarily relocate the Taylor Square Firehouse crew in order to complete this work. A nearby site has been selected, which provides allowable response times to this firehouse’s normally assigned response area.

A brief presentation will be given, followed by a comment, question and answer period. We encourage you to attend, as we value the feedback we receive from Cambridge residents and businesses.
Information and Assistance:
The City of Cambridge does not discriminate on the basis of disability. The City of Cambridge will provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative format, and reasonable modifications in policies upon request. For more information on this project, please contact Julie Lynch at the Department of Public Works at jlynch@cambridgema.gov / 617.349.9452.

Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2019 and will last for approximately 12 months. 

The City recently initiated a Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan, which evaluated and prioritized 43 buildings for capital improvements in areas such as accessibility, climate resilience, building envelope, fire and life safety, historic preservation, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, occupant comfort, and mechanical systems. Beginning in FY2016 this Department of Public Works program has completed: HVAC upgrades at the East Cambridge Firehouse, Robert W. Healy Public Safety Facility, the Main Library and Central Square Library; rooftop photovoltaic solar arrays at the Kennedy Longfellow School, Citywide Senior Center, Fletcher Maynard Academy and Main Library; roof replacement projects at the Citywide Senior Center, Moore and Moses Youth Centers; interior alteration projects at the Coffon Lower Level, City Hall Annex, and DPW Frazier Building; accessibility upgrades across multiple buildings, and other improvement projects.  As part of the plan for FY 2019, the Taylor Square Firehouse will undergo renovations consisting of:

  • Roof replacement including a 24kW solar photovoltaic array
  • Ground source heat pumps including drilling three new wells at the firehouse apron.
  • Upgrade to the electrical service, including the emergency generator
  • Second floor window replacement
  • Painting exterior trim
  • Accessibility upgrades for public access
  • Masonry work at rear egress stair
  • Interior water and electricity saving measures

It is necessary to temporarily relocate the Taylor Square Firehouse crew in order to complete this work. A nearby site has been selected, which provides allowable response times to this firehouse’s normally assigned response area.




Page was posted on 2/4/2019 7:21 PM
Page was last modified on 7/25/2023 3:41 AM
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