They hope to return to these boards in the coming weeks with the design changes resulting from the meetings of the past few days--including a duller color for the building's outer walls and an extra floor set back from the street.

The upper floors are slated to be a center for the offices of the Harvard University Library. The ground level will still house stores, although Scott Levitan, the director of University and commercial real estate for the Harvard Planning and Real Estate office, said he doubts Harvard will renew the lease of the Harvard Provisions Company.

According to Cott, the architects envision the area becoming a light restaurant where patrons can eat outside in the courtyard in good weather.

But these decisions will come much later because design itself is the University's highest priority.

"We took a risk on this project," Levitan said.

Development in Cambridge has become progressively more difficult over the years as city review boards have multiplied and residents have protested against unchecked growth. In Harvard Square, the review process is especially arduous.

According to Mary Power, Harvard's senior director of community relations, one of the University's main goals for this project is to open a dialogue with city residents about the direction that Harvard development should take over the next few decades.