Arts join sciences in Harvard Allston

Alongside a huge applied-sciences center, a toehold for art-making

Photograph from the OxBlue Construction Cameras

Though attention rightly focuses on the engineering and applied sciences complex taking shape on Western Avenue, its smaller cousin, the 9,000-square-foot ArtLab maker space (sited around the corner, on North Harvard Street; see harvardmag.com/artlab-plans-17), is also well under way, as shown in these November views. As the fine print always cautions, these images are not to scale: the billion-dollar science facility appears below, and its humanistic neighbor—at roughly one-hundredth the investment—above. But as a harbinger of other potential arts and related facilities in the vicinity, the ArtLab looms large.


Photograph from the OxBlue Construction Cameras

You might also like

Commencement Day with Conan O’Brien

The comedian headlined a star-studded cast for Harvard’s 375th Commencement exercises.

Mychal Threets Brings ‘Library Joy’ to Harvard

The librarian and social media star gave the keynote address for Harvard Graduate School of Education’s convocation.

Affinity Celebrations Continue Outside of Harvard’s Gates

At unofficial ceremonies for minority groups and veterans, speakers comment on politics. 

Most popular

Ronny Chieng Tells Harvard to ‘Destroy AI’ as Graduates Cheer

The comedian and The Daily Show host gave the keynote address for Class Day 2026.

Harvard Confers Five Honorary Degrees at the 2026 Commencement

O’Brien joins journalists, a scholar of AI, and a Broadway star.

Harvard 2026 Commencement Photo Album

A gallery of photographs from the Commencement celebration for the class of 2026

Explore More From Current Issue

Alene Anello smiling surrounded by four chickens in a natural outdoor setting.

This Harvard-Trained Lawyer Fights for the Rights of Chickens

Alene Anello wants to apply animal cruelty laws to birds raised for meat.

Historical battle scene with soldiers in red and blue uniforms, flags waving, chaotic action.

The Harvard-Trained Doctor Who Urged a Revolution

Before his heroic death, General Joseph Warren was dubbed “the greatest incendiary in all of America.”

Woman with long hair, smiling, wearing a black sweater, in a textured beige background.

For This Poet, AI Is a Writing Partner

Sasha Stiles trained a chatbot on her manuscripts. Now, her poems rewrite themselves.