At Harvard, The Memorial Church Upgrades Building Controls

Part of a facility-wide renovation, HVAC automation has been integrated to allow for comfortable, year-round use of the building in Cambridge, MA.

JM Electrical Company, Inc., a Lynnfield, MA firm specializing in the installation of integrated control systems, recently completed project operations at Harvard Memorial Church. This historic church is located at 1 Harvard Bus Tunnel in the center of Harvard Yard in Cambridge, MA. JM Electrical partnered with a building technology company on the control system.

Having completed the HVAC control system for the upper and lower levels of the church, JM Electrical utilized wireless technology due to the complexities of the facility. All of the work was done while maintaining the architectural integrity of the building. JM began work on the church in October 2016, which is now operational and ready for use.

historic church
Harvard Memorial Church

Harvard Memorial Church was built in 1932 as a gift from alumni of the University to honor the memory of those who died in World War I, dedicated on Armistice Day of the same year. Engraved in the church are the names of 373 Harvard alumni who died in battle. Since then, additional memorials have been added in remembrance of those who have died in wars since, including World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

The church preserves an historic staple of the university, and holds weekly Sunday services led by the Harvard University Choir. It also offers a variety of programs for students, adults, and children including Bible Study, Church School for Children, and Faith & Life Forum.

“We were happy to work on such a notable Harvard landmark,” said Adam Palmer, project manager at JM Electrical. “It was important with this job to ensure the preservation of the building and comfort of its visitors to enable year-round use, which is what the new control system will allow. Not only that, but the smart energy system will result in maximized energy efficiency and reduced energy costs for the church.”

Jim Mowe, JM Electrical’s foreman on the job, oversaw four electricians throughout the multi-month duration of the project to ensure the project was completed on time and on budget. Founded in 1985, JM Electrical has more than 140 employees, and all electricians receive over 10,000 hours of training throughout the NEC/IBEW joint training center.