Barry's Corner in Allston could get Harvard Square-ier with proposed new theater complex and apartment building for Harvard grad students, professors and staff

Harvard University yesterday filed plans with the BPDA to build a new home for the American Repertory Theatre at 175 North Harvard St. that would include two theaters able to hold up to 1,000 people as well as a 14-story, 264-unit apartment building that would be topped with "a beacon effect" as an homage to Allston.

Rising from Barry’s Corner toward McCurdy Track and culminating with a beacon effect at its pinnacle, the Project reads clearly as an extension of Allston’s history of industriousness, urban vitality and density.

The plan replaces Harvard's original proposal for a basketball arena on the 2.7-acre site, part of Harvard's overall 189 acres of land in Allston.

In addition to the North Harvard Street project, Harvard says it also wants to turn a Soldiers Field Road building where the Ground Round and Pax TV used to be into space for its ski team - which would use it as a staging area for vans taking team members to races in the steeper parts of New England.

In its filing, Harvard says:

The Project Site will include improved streetscapes with street trees, as well as new outdoor gathering spaces, including a residential courtyard between the two buildings and the "Performance Yard", a versatile outdoor space to house A.R.T. special events and programming and invite public gathering.

Harvard says the new A.R.T. complex, which would include two theaters and rehearsal space, would let A.R.T continue its role as one of the leaders of American theater.

Since its founding, the A.R.T. has been in residence at the Loeb Drama Center, a building originally constructed for undergraduate use in 1960, on Brattle Street in Cambridge. ... Though it was a state‐of ‐the‐art building when it was designed, it currently lacks access for patrons and artists and no longer meets the standards of excellence for theater practice, and by extension, the overall vision for the future of the A.R.T. ...

The mission of the Performance Center Component is to create a new center for research and performance that will allow the A.R.T. to continue to expand the boundaries of theater and reaffirm the theater as a vital public space. Based on the model of a teaching hospital, it will combine student learning and professional practice.

Harvard says the new housing for its grad students, professors and staff is needed because of continuing demand - its current housing stock is completely full.

The Affiliate Housing Component will provide much‐needed new housing for graduate students, faculty, staff, and their families in a new building that promotes sustainability and healthy living. The Affiliate Housing Component will pursue Living Building Challenge Core, along with of Living Building Challenge Materials Petal accreditation, the intent of which is to foster a materials economy that is non‐toxic, ecologically restorative, transparent, and socially equitable. Passive House certification will also be pursued, resulting in a high‐performance building envelope that seeks to minimize energy consumption.

The apartment building would have 75 parking spaces, more or less.

175 North Harvard St. filings and meeting schedule.