Projects » Harvard, Newell Boathouse

HARVARD UNIVERSITY, NEWELL BOATHOUSE

CAMBRIDGE, MA

Both of Harvard’s rowing boathouses, Newell and Weld, were originally designed by Peabody and Stearns Architects, a firm founded by Robert Peabody, who rowed at Harvard in the mid-1860’s. Built in 1901, Newell Boathouse houses the Heavyweight and Lightweight men’s crews, two of the nation’s most successful programs.

Peterson Architects teamed with Bruner Cott Associates to renovate both boathouses. The buildings, situated in the Charles River Basin Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, are cherished by Harvard students and faculty for their historic significance.

Renovated in 2024, Newell is a wood-framed building clad in unique red slate, with a green slate roof. All of the slate was removed and replaced as part of the project. A 1960’s addition was removed, and the building’s old rowing tank, not repairable, was replaced by a new open training space. Two new boat sheds provide storage for boats belonging to the University’s House crews.

The renovation aimed to renew the building, respecting the original design and patina, while making careful and reverential modifications.  The building’s materials respect the past, meet the needs of the current rowers and serve as an appealing draw to entice future recruits.

The building was modernized with new energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems; cutting-edge boat, oar, and equipment storage; renewed and expanded training space; and improved accessibility. The result is a modernized facility that retains the historical essence of this grand structure.

Photography by Peterson Architects