Harvard Opens David Rubenstein Treehouse, Its First Mass Timber Building

Harvard University has opened the David Rubenstein Treehouse, its first University-wide conference center and the institution’s first mass timber building.

Clad in Alaskan yellow cedar and featuring bird-safe glass and branch-like beams, the building was designed to create a distinctive visual experience while fostering collaboration and social connection, and it stands as Harvard’s most sustainable structure to date.

Located adjacent to Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus in Allston, the Treehouse began hosting private events this month. It was made possible through a gift from David Rubenstein, a longtime supporter of the University.

“Since planning began on the ERC, one of our primary goals was to create a convening space … for wider collaboration among academic, industry, and public and community leaders,” said Harvard Executive Vice President Meredith Weenick.

Weenick added that the Treehouse represents Harvard’s “leading-edge, multi-faceted approach to sustainability,” with mass timber construction that both reduces embodied carbon and creates a warm, welcoming environment.

Additional sustainability features include concrete made with ground glass pozzolan instead of coal fly ash, interior materials that avoid chemicals of concern such as PFAS, and an in-floor ventilation system that supports both efficiency and comfort.