Newell & Weld Boathouses

For more than a century, the Newell and Weld boathouses have stood proudly along the Charles River, anchoring Harvard’s storied rowing tradition. Recently renewed, these landmarks now carry forward their history with fresh energy, honoring the generations who came before while creating spaces that meet the needs of today’s athletes and tomorrow’s teams.

Harvard University
Cambridge, MA Completed: 2025

Photography by © Richard Mandelkorn Photography

Constructed in 1901, Newell has long been home to the most successful men’s rowing program in the country. Weld, built in 1906, stands at a prominent gateway to Harvard and serves as the heart of the women’s rowing program. Both buildings, part of the Charles River Basin Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, hold deep meaning for generations of Harvard students and faculty.

In partnership with Peterson Architects, one of the world’s leading designers of rowing facilities, and Harvard Athletics, we renewed both boathouses to better support today’s student-athletes while preserving the character that makes them historic landmarks. Constantly in use and cherished as some of the earliest rowing boathouses in the country, Newell and Weld remain vital symbols of Harvard’s rowing tradition.

Each space was reimagined with the rower’s experience in mind. New workout rooms now provide opportunities for training that mirror the discipline and intensity of the water. Locker rooms and showers were reorganized to meet the demands of modern teams, while expanded boat storage makes daily practice smoother and more efficient. Just as importantly, new gathering spaces give athletes room to connect, celebrate, and strengthen the bonds that make Harvard rowing unique.

Together, these renewed boathouses embody both tradition and progress. They honor the legacies of the men’s and women’s programs while ensuring that every athlete, past, present, and future, feels a part of something larger than themselves.