Construction of Tufts’ new residence hall on Boston Avenue is steadily progressing, with project leaders estimating completion by July 2027. Led by developer group Capstone Development Partners and general contractor Erland Construction, the hall aims to ease housing pressures and reshape campus-community boundaries.
The project, presently referred to as Pachyderm Place, is currently in its ‘superstructure’ phase, a critical stage in construction when a building’s outer shell is formed.
“You basically start with site clearing [and] foundations, and you’re into superstructure,” Dan Bethers, construction manager from Capstone Development Partners, said. “This is the most critical because, during the superstructure, we’re susceptible to the weather.”
Construction progress significantly slowed down during the historically harsh winter, with development proving especially vulnerable to weather conditions. Erland Construction’s Senior Project Superintendent Keith Melanson described the manual process of retrieving materials under thick layers of snow.
“We had slabs ready to go. They were then under 20 inches of snow,” Melanson said. “To be able to place that concrete … we have to shovel it off. … Then, we had to truck it all off site so we had access to it.”
Despite these setbacks, construction has regained momentum, with crew members working extended shifts in a coordinated system. Continuously placing wall panels, crews assemble the building in stages as multiple teams work simultaneously in different pods.
“I’ll call it a dance between the two pods,” Melanson said, referring to the collaborative nature of panel installation and concrete placement across the site.
The development consists of two buildings, East and West, that will house more than 660 upperclassmen in apartment-style units. Most units are four-bedroom suites featuring a shared kitchen, common area, two bathrooms and large windows.
Project leaders underscored that the residence hall is both a housing solution for college students and a community-focused initiative.
“Our hope … is that we’ve added something of value to the community,” Bethers said. “It’s going to help alleviate some of the stresses in the neighborhood, with upperclassmen living in the neighborhood where people are trying to live.”
The new residence hall will also incorporate ground-floor retail space, though finalized tenants have not yet been announced.
“We hope the retail will help bring a little life that’s not chaotic, but complements Boston Avenue and the neighborhood,” Bethers said.
Improvements in infrastructure are also a major component of this development as plans for protected bike lanes, new sidewalks and greenery installations are in place.
“We’ve been very cognizant with the coordination and involving those around us to give what we feel is a win-win for everyone to the best of our ability,” Bethers said.
In an interview with the Daily, University President Sunil Kumar cited the project as part of a broader initiative following recent increases in student enrollment.
“Now we are [at] full size, and at this point … we want to actually build out resources for the students,” Kumar said, emphasizing the new residence hall as part of that effort.
The building is currently named after the term ‘pachyderm,’ used to describe a thick-skinned mammal — a nod to both Jumbo the elephant and Bessie the rhino, the respective mascots for both the Medford/Somerville campus and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University campus. However, Kumar acknowledged its unusual origins and potential changes.
“The fact that it takes that one-paragraph explanation suggests there may be a future improvement,” he joked.
Applications for fall 2027 occupancy in the new residence hall will officially open this July, with the option for students to join a VIP list now available. Until its completion next summer, crews will continue to navigate the challenges of developing large-scale construction in a university campus environment.
“A little bit of pain now for something that’s going to be wonderful when we’re finished,” Bethers said.
