HARVARD ERC PROJECT

Beauty and Savings. Harvard Proved It.

Trowel Trades delivered a showstopping facade for less.

When Harvard University needed a creative, cost-effective exterior cladding solution for its Enterprise Research Campus (ERC), Trowel Trades Supply brought the answer: Alu.covering^® by Aliva^® USA.

A Master Class in Beauty, Performance, and Savings

Harvard needs no introduction as one of America’s elite universities. But when specs for rainscreen cladding for Harvard's ERC Verra Apartments created budget pressure, it was clear that they needed a more intelligent solution.

Trowel Trades Supply proposed substituting the specified terracotta cladding with Aliva’s 1.5 psf extruded aluminum Alu.covering panels. Here’s the report card:

• $1 MILLION+ SAVED on the subframe alone
• 5x FEWER PANELS required, reducing labor time and material handling costs significantly.
• A PERFECT MATCH with 3-coat AAMA 2605 color process simulating glazed terracotta’s depth and character

The Finished Product: An Exquisite Facade with Budget Brilliance

Alu.covering^® by Aliva USA – Beautiful, Affordable, Proven

Alu.covering is the most complete architectural answer to the design requirement for extruded aluminum ventilated facades. Precision machining guarantees extremely tight tolerances, and its maximum size (300 x 13,000 mm) and minimum thickness (2 mm) enable broad utility.

Alu.covering's specification advantages are substantial:

• Thermally broken engineered substructure for all backup conditions
• Easy installation in vertical or horizontal configurations
• Environmentally friendly
• Infinitely recyclable / 80% recycled content by weight
• Resistant to impact, chemicals, fire, and atmospheric agents

World-Class Partners, World-Class Results

Trowel Trades Supply supplied the extruded aluminum rainscreen panels to the Harvard project with international architects MVRDV, general contractors Smoot/Consigli, and installers LYMO Construction. Together, the team delivered a facade that met Harvard's design standards, came in under budget, and earned the visual impact the campus demanded.

The Work in Progress 

Project Profile

Trowel Trades supplied extruded aluminum rainscreen panels: 83,000 SF of Alu.covering manufactured by Aliva USA.

Harvard Enterprise Research Campus
Verra Apartments
100 Western Ave.
Boston, MA 02134 (Allston neighborhood)
Architect: MVRDV Architects
GC: Smoot/Consigli
Rainscreen panels: Alu.covering manufactured by Aliva USA, supplied by Trowel Trades Supply
Siding Installer: LYMO

Trowel Trades Supply – Your Reliable Construction Products Supplier

As part of the GMS family of companies, Trowel Trades Supply has crafted a solid reputation as a trusted provider of smart construction solutions in New England. For generations, local builders have come to Trowel Trades for quality products and exceptional service.

Ready to bring the same balance of beauty and value engineering to your next project? Talk to your local Trowel Trades rep about Alu.covering and our full product line.