Transforming Classrooms and Offices to Quantum Computing Labs: Renovating an Existing University Building to a Low Vibration Facility

Completed in the early 2000’s, Harvard University’s building at 60 Oxford Street in Cambridge, MA was initially home to a data center, various classrooms, and department offices. Design work began in 2019 to transform the building to accommodate advanced laboratories working in quantum engineering, molecular biology, optical physics, and catalytic chemistry. The ability to conduct ultra-precision measurements was essential to the success of the new occupants, and upgrading the building’s vibration performance was a fundamental part of the renovation design. This paper describes the process the design team took to upgrade a building in the heart of campus that was not originally built with low vibration spaces in mind. The process began with extensive in-situ testing to inform dynamic models of the existing structure. Next, the structural engineer created a retrofit design that could meet the project’s vibration goals. This was followed by testing throughout construction and finally post occupancy verification measurements. The ultimate result was a facility that now hosts twenty-seven precise measurement labs, expanding Harvard’s research capabilities.