The historic Harvard Yard fence is undergoing its first major renovations this year since its completion in 1936.

Work began yesterday on eight brick piers near the Sever Quadrangle Gate. The piers, column like structures on the wall, have deteroriated after years of water damage.

Further repairs on the rest of the wall are scheduled for next year. The complete restoration is projected to cost about $2.3 million.

The project, conceived by Associate Director of Facilities Maintenance Robert Lyng two years ago, will involve renovations of both brick and iron portions of 154 sections of the fence.

According to a spokesperson for the Boston-based Phoenix Bay Construction Company, which is overseeing brickwork repairs, Harvard has engaged in only minor renovations in the past, including simple "paint-up" jobs.

Restoration Necessary

Cambridge Historical Commissioner Charles Sullivan said the complete restoration was necessary to save the fence from complete destruction.

Officials working with the project said the fence is an important Cambridge landmark. "I think it's fair to say the fence is a historically significant structure," said Edie Groden, the project's manager at Harvard Facilities Maintenance.

The Phoenix Bay spokesperson said the project's first phase will end in November due to poor weather conditions. The next phase will begin in April.

Still, Groden said, the contractors hope to complete the repairs before the original target date of October 1993.