Harvard University will suspend work on its planned $1 billion science center early next year after losing almost a third of its endowment. Allston project would be “slowed” because of a bleak economic environment.

The Harvard Corporation, the university's governing body, reviewed options for the complex and decided to delay the next phase of construction while continuing to examine future possibilities. The first phase of construction - completing the foundation and bringing the structure to ground level - is expected to be finished by spring 2010.