Blackstone North
Address46, Blackstone Street, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02139
Site Number01702
Alternate Names
Building 6
Building Root Number
01702
Architect (Original)
Sheaff & Jaastad, engineers
Constructed
1903
Land Acquired 2003
Building Acquired 2003
Land Acquired 2003
Building Acquired 2003
StatusActive
Materials for this building in our collection are not fully processed at this time.
Site Name HistoryThe site is named after its address.Historical NotesThe Blackstone utility plant at the intersection of Western Avenue and Memorial Drive was completed in 1903 to a design by engineering firm Sheaff and Jaastad of Boston, and served as the office building for the Cambridge Electric Light Company. Harvard acquired the Blackstone complex in 2002 from the NStar utility company.
In 2006, Blackstone South had a major renovation by Bruner Cott & Associates, and at the same time, major improvements were made to the Blackstone North site. A parking lot was converted into a green space, including a bioswale that filters storm water and reduces runoff to the Charles River.
Additional Information
“Cambridge Electric Light Co.’s New Plant,” The Cambridge Chronicle, May 4, 1901, p. 5.
Hail, Christopher. Harvard/Radcliffe Online Historical Reference Shelf: Cambridge Buildings and Architects
Dorgan, Lauren R. “Harvard Acquires Local Steam Plant” The Harvard Crimson, August 9, 2002.
Haglund, Karl. Inventing the Charles River, (Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2003), pp. 140-142
“New Power House Has No Equal in Country“ The Cambridge Chronicle, July 19, 1902, p. 13.
“Power Plant of the Cambridge Electric Light Company” Engineering Record, Building Record And Sanitary Engineer. (New York: McGraw Pub. Co, 1902), v 46, pp 410-412.
Howe, Peter J. “Harvard to Buy Power Plant.” Boston Globe, Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC, 3 Aug. 2002, p. E.1.
“A $250,000 Plant.” Cambridge Tribune, 16 Mar. 1901, p. 1.
