July 18, 2025
Preparation for a future Dramatic Arts Building is underway. This project will construct a new building at the corner of Crown and York Streets which will serve as the primary location for the David Geffen School of Drama, Yale Repertory Theatre, and various undergraduate theater arts programs.
Work has begun to secure the job site, providing safe and accessible passage in the area. A new temporary traffic pattern is being established over the next few days, with a plan to shift traffic and pedestrian paths along Crown Street between York and Park Streets. Both travel lanes will remain active on Crown Street.
What to expect
Shifting traffic on Crown Street is taking place now through Monday, July 21, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The project team will begin mobilizing around 7 a.m. each day, starting and completing work in accordance with city ordinances. This work is weather dependent, and none is scheduled to take place over the weekend.
The City of New Haven requires that we provide safety egress and are installing Jersey barriers along Crown Street to the north, creating a temporary sidewalk that moves two westbound travel lanes south. This shift impacts street parking, which will be unavailable through fall 2025. Parking in Yale lots 80 and 83 (338, 341 Crown Street) will also be unavailable during this time.
What’s next
Once the job site is secure, the project team will abate five buildings. After abatement, two buildings on the site along Crown Street (337, 341-343) will be demolished, followed by the buildings along York Street (142, 146, 148). This work is scheduled to begin by the week of July 28 and be done by fall 2025.
During this time, there will be several days of heavy machinery incrementally taking the buildings down. Sound blankets will be installed along the site fence line to minimize noise, and work will take place during standard business hours.
Demolition work will be conducted under close oversight to protect public health and safety. Multiple mitigation strategies will be in place, including the use of industry-standard misters that spray water to suppress airborne particles. Air quality monitors will be installed around the site perimeter, and a licensed industrial hygienist will be onsite, actively reviewing real-time data.
Upon the demolition completion, and after the site is stabilized, traffic shifting will again take place during a future series of days. The dates for returning the street, sidewalk, and parking to its original configuration in fall 2025 will be shared prior to the start of this work.
United Illuminating work
United Illuminating has been working on the relocation of power lines and utility poles in this area, along a similar timeline. Their work is also scheduled to finish in fall 2025.
We understand that all this work may cause some inconvenience during the next several months and appreciate your patience and understanding. Please note that this change is temporary, and we will continue to share updates as the project progresses.
Image: Google map view of the affected area in yellow on Crown Street between Park and York Streets