The reconstruction of the Harvard Square (Cambridge, Massachusetts) rapid transit station and its associated tunnel work, scheduled for completion in 1983, will have resulted in sustained construction activity over a five‐year period. A number of Harvard University dormitory, classroom, and other academic buildings directly abut work sites and a great many more buildings have shielded or partially shielded exposure to construction noise. The potential problems of long term activity interference, occupant annoyance, and sleep disturbance were recognized and addressed early in the planning phases of the project. Extensive noise monitoring both before and after the construction commenced was carried out in dormitory rooms, classrooms, and faculty offices with open and closed windows. On the basis of analysis of the existing noise environments and the proposed construction activity scenarios, a program of sound attenuation measures for most severely affected buildings was developed and implemented. This paper reviews the development of criteria for permissable interior noise levels produced by construction noise sources, the noise monitoring program, the design and implementation of building noise attenuation features, and general results observed to date.