MIT East Campus - Kendall Square Gateway | Cambridge

[whighlander]

CSTH -- You should have seen it circa 1970 when Cambridge was contemplating either building a new city hall or low income housing

NASA was gone and the newly created DOT [most people don't know that Nixon was the One] was only going to finish a couple of the buildings -- and that was despite whatever pull John Volpe had as both a popular Governor and the the First Secretary of the DOT

{circa 1965}

{circa 1969}

That's when MIT played its Trump Card and said we'll take care of it for you -- we've already built Technology Square for Polaroid [and some of our own stuff]

-- don't bother your tiny tiny little brains [which we will get around to studying a decade or so after we decode your Genes]

Tech Square also changed over the decades

 

[whighlander]

MIT has produced a video of the Vision for Kendall as part of -Celebrating a Century In Cambridge

Innovation Ecosystem

While it has no details at the detail level -- its worth a look

https://youtu.be/LHCoRam4HQ8

 

[stefal]

Press release today with more renderings:
http://news.mit.edu/2016/new-era-kendall-square-initiative-cambridge-planning-board-0518

This is a massive project.

MIT made a new video to compliment its press release/update on what's going on around campus, development wise. It's quite long, however.

Link to YouTube Video

This project certainly seems promising. They're really listening to the community this time. They had meetings with residents, the mayor and city council, and MIT members. Everybody's getting what they want (residential, student housing, retail, open space, more office space, MIT Museum, MIT additions, etc.) Let's just hope they execute this well.

 

[whighlander]

MIT made a new video to compliment its press release/update on what's going on around campus, development wise. It's quite long, however.

Link to YouTube Video

This project certainly seems promising. They're really listening to the community this time. They had meetings with residents, the mayor and city council, and MIT members. Everybody's getting what they want (residential, student housing, retail, open space, more office space, MIT Museum, MIT additions, etc.) Let's just hope they execute this well.

Stefalarchitect -- I think that MIT was a bit too restrained -- they should have pushed for more space in the towers -- especially given the conversion of some of the huge parking lots to lawn

 

[bigpicture7]

News release today (9/20), with project schedule details:

Construction Underway in Kendall Square, New Site Provides Forecasts

September 20, 2016

MIT’s Kendall Square construction activities are underway this month. Ultimately, this visionary project will deliver a dynamic blend of uses in the area, including graduate student, market rate, and affordable housing; lab and research space; innovation space; retail and open space; and a new facility for the MIT Museum.
. . .

The anticipated initial phases of work include:

- Phase 1 (fall 2016- fall 2017): Upgrade of existing and addition of new utilities along Amherst, Carleton, Hayward, and Wadsworth Streets
- Phase 2 (2017): Excavation for below-grade parking garage, to extend from Dock Street to Carleton Street
- Phase 3 (2017): Full interior renovation of Buildings E38 and E39 (292 and 290 Main St); demolition of Buildings E33 and E34 on Carleton Street
- Phase 4 (2018-2020): Ongoing garage and building construction for new graduate residence (Site 4)

URL: http://kendallsquare.mit.edu/update...ay-kendall-square-new-site-provides-forecasts

Site Map:

 

[34f34f]

The Kendall Square at MIT project team will host two community meetings to discuss construction impacts and the future of Kendall Square next Tuesday, October 18th!

See more info on the community outreach meetings + the October construction update here:

http://courbanize.com/projects/mit-kendall-square/updates

 

[FK4]

Are there renders for what's going up? I look straight out my window two days a week at this site, but I haven't received anything other than that map of construction updates.

 

[whighlander]

Are there renders for what's going up? I look straight out my window two days a week at this site, but I haven't received anything other than that map of construction updates.

Fk-4 -- Here's the basic URL with all the links to the MIT Kendall Initiative
http://kendallsquare.mit.edu/

here are the two North of Main [NoMa] and South of Main [SoMa] as presented to the board for final approval -- lots of renders in these

NoMa

Planned Unit Development
Special Permit Application - NoMa
Planning Board #302
May 17, 2016

http://kendallsquare.mit.edu/sites/default/files/documents/MIT_PUDPlanningBoardNoMa_20160517.pdf
SoMa

Planned Unit Development
Special Permit Application - SoMa
Planning Board #303
May 17, 2016

http://kendallsquare.mit.edu/sites/default/files/documents/MIT_PUDPlanningBoardSoMa_20160517.pdf

 

[FK4]

Fk-4 -- Here's the basic URL with all the links to the MIT Kendall Initiative
http://kendallsquare.mit.edu/

here are the two North of Main [NoMa] and South of Main [SoMa] as presented to the board for final approval -- lots of renders in these

NoMa
http://kendallsquare.mit.edu/sites/default/files/documents/MIT_PUDPlanningBoardNoMa_20160517.pdf
SoMa
http://kendallsquare.mit.edu/sites/default/files/documents/MIT_PUDPlanningBoardSoMa_20160517.pdf

thanks. so i guess where theyre diggin is just gonna be more greenspace and infinite corridor extension... plans look good though. it also looks like a few buildings on carlton st will be demolished(?)

I like Hayward St - right when you duck into it off Main, it has a good, alley-like vibe. Will be nice to see retail there along with more filled in streetwall.

 

[briv]

Pulled from the SoMA pdf:

I'm liking so much of what's going on in this picture. It will be fantastic if they can achieve this kind of urbanism in Kendall Sq in the near future.

 

[JeffDowntown]

^ I agree that this all looks great for Kendall Square. But they really need to drop the stupid NoMa, SoMa monikers. They are so dated.

 

[bigpicture7]

^ I agree that this all looks great for Kendall Square. But they really need to drop the stupid NoMa, SoMa monikers. They are so dated.

Yeah they're not the best monikers, but given that each of these buildings won't be built/finished at exactly the same time, I am guessing we will fall into the practice of just referring to the specific sub-projects. The only challenge with that is that this is truly a multi-parcel integrated project - for example, all of the storefronts on the south side of Main in the two of the historic buildings there are getting gutted and renovated as part of this effort as well (the MIT Press Bookstore is scheduled to move to a new location at 301 Mass Ave as of 10/24 in order to vacate their Main st. location; the other adjacent businesses are closing or moving too...it will be about 3.5 years before the retail stretch re-opens).

All I'm saying is it's sometimes hard to just refer to specific sub-projects, so everything gets lumped together.

 

[whighlander]

^ I agree that this all looks great for Kendall Square. But they really need to drop the stupid NoMa, SoMa monikers. They are so dated.

JefDowntown -- No just a convenient short hand

There really is a split along Main Street

South of Main the primary focus is Institutional such as the Press, the Museum with commercial secondary [e.g. retail and some non-MiT affiliated office uses]

North of Main Street the focus is on Commercial [e.g mostly-non MIT office / light lab with some retail] with some of the space to be used by MIT entities

So there is a NoMa and a SoMa -- although I'm sure the monikers are really only going to last until the construction is completed

Most important about MIT's kendall Initiative is that with completion of the building housing the Museum -- MIT will finally have a 2nd real portal to the community at large.

In practice, more than officially, the T stop on Main will become MIT's real Portal to the Community at large. This is particularly true since MIT's official Address @ 77 MAss Ave is facing the residential & service chunk of the MIT Campus and mostly Gnurds flow across Mass Ave. Meanwhile whatever # Mass Ave has Hotels, Microsoft and Google for neighbors.

 

[tangent]

Most important about MIT's kendall Initiative is that with completion of the building housing the Museum -- MIT will finally have a 2nd real portal to the community at large.

In practice, more than officially, the T stop on Main will become MIT's real Portal to the Community at large. This is particularly true since MIT's official Address @ 77 MAss Ave is facing the residential & service chunk of the MIT Campus and mostly Gnurds flow across Mass Ave. Meanwhile whatever # Mass Ave has Hotels, Microsoft and Google for neighbors.

Hopefully the Museum and other new development can create an impressive portal to campus from Kendall. The de facto entrance/portal to MIT campus from Kendall is now through the lobby of MIT Medical which then allows access to campus on the other side. Which feels more like a cut through than how you should feel entering the MIT campus from a major innovation and research hub, or from the transit hub.

Much different than how impressive it is to enter from the Rogers building/building 7.

MIT Museum creates an opportunity to have that sort of portal facing Kendall, but it needs to bring together all the different elements and not just be something off to the side

 

[whighlander]

Hopefully the Museum and other new development can create an impressive portal to campus from Kendall. The de facto entrance/portal to MIT campus from Kendall is now through the lobby of MIT Medical which then allows access to campus on the other side. Which feels more like a cut through than how you should feel entering the MIT campus from a major innovation and research hub, or from the transit hub.

Much different than how impressive it is to enter from the Rogers building/building 7.

MIT Museum creates an opportunity to have that sort of portal facing Kendall, but it needs to bring together all the different elements and not just be something off to the side

Tangent -- here's a video that MIT prepared to showcase the concept as part of the MIT Celebration of the Centennial of the MIT Cambridge Campus [May 1916 to 2016]

https://youtu.be/LHCoRam4HQ8

Note that some of the individual building designs have evolved since this was produced

 

[SeamusMcFly]

Not sure where Westie got his breakdown, but NOMA is one building really. The high rise residential going next to and attached to 1 Broadway. Not commercial or light lab. There will also be a retail addition off the back side of One Broadway.

SOMA on the other hand is a large integrated project consisting of 3 new high rise buildings sitting on top of one large 6 story below grade garage that services all three buildings above. The 3 buildings offer 3 distinct uses in the high rise portions (3 = lab/office, 4 = student housing, & 5 = office space). Building 2 is also part of SOMA but not part of the initial thrust of the project as the existing tower needs to come down first (unfortunately), but will be another lab/office building.

Building 3 will be fully integrated into the existing 238 (clock tower) building, while building 4, will remain completely separate from the existing two building to remain. Building 5 takes the place of the to be demolished Cambridge Trust Building.

Also, for those who like this type of stuff.
SOMA
Building 2 = 240' proposed to top of parapet/screenwall.
Building 3 = 238'-6" to top of parapet
Building 4 = 315' to top of penthouse.
Building 5 = 270' to top of screenwall

NOMA = 275' (or 25' above the 250' limit at this site per the pdf's online.

 

[whighlander]

Not sure where Westie got his breakdown, but NOMA is one building really. The high rise residential going next to and attached to 1 Broadway. Not commercial or light lab. There will also be a retail addition off the back side of One Broadway.

SOMA on the other hand is a large integrated project consisting of 3 new high rise buildings sitting on top of one large 6 story below grade garage that services all three buildings above. The 3 buildings offer 3 distinct uses in the high rise portions (3 = lab/office, 4 = student housing, & 5 = office space). Building 2 is also part of SOMA but not part of the initial thrust of the project as the existing tower needs to come down first (unfortunately), but will be another lab/office building.

Building 3 will be fully integrated into the existing 238 (clock tower) building, while building 4, will remain completely separate from the existing two building to remain. Building 5 takes the place of the to be demolished Cambridge Trust Building.

Also, for those who like this type of stuff.
SOMA
Building 2 = 240' proposed to top of parapet/screenwall.
Building 3 = 238'-6" to top of parapet
Building 4 = 315' to top of penthouse.
Building 5 = 270' to top of screenwall

NOMA = 275' (or 25' above the 250' limit at this site per the pdf's online.

Seamus -- Thanks for the details on the building heights, correcting some mis-connects, etc.

What has been lacking is a comprehensive overview even when you go through all the materials and presentations. Despite the fact that this one is over a year old and some details have changed its quite comprehensive.
http://kendallsquare.mit.edu/sites/default/files/documents/KSI_Update_2015-0506.pdf

From this slide show and the video you can see that in addition to the new construction that there is a whole lot of reworking / renovating / repurposing / repositioning / recladding involved in the total [including the eventual demolition of East Gate -- which may have a life like Bldg. 20 -- for some time into the future]

The video and slide show includes quite a bit on the transformation of what has been sitting unfinished for decades [the original Badger Co. Hq building ] which will now get in addition to a housing tower a reatial extension in back olong Broad Canal way

SoMa includes the renovation / repositioning of stuff in the old MIT Press Building and building a relatively small structure near the edge of the existing building on Ames and Main

Coincidentally, Tomorrow [Tuesday] there is a Status update meeting mostly designed for the MIT Community
http://kendallsquare.mit.edu/update...ctober-18-provide-overview-construction-plans

 

[SeamusMcFly]

Seamus -- Thanks for the details on the building heights, correcting some mis-connects, etc.

What has been lacking is a comprehensive overview even when you go through all the materials and presentations. Despite the fact that this one is over a year old and some details have changed its quite comprehensive.
http://kendallsquare.mit.edu/sites/default/files/documents/KSI_Update_2015-0506.pdf

From this slide show and the video you can see that in addition to the new construction that there is a whole lot of reworking / renovating / repurposing / repositioning / recladding involved in the total [including the eventual demolition of East Gate -- which may have a life like Bldg. 20 -- for some time into the future]

The video and slide show includes quite a bit on the transformation of what has been sitting unfinished for decades [the original Badger Co. Hq building ] which will now get in addition to a housing tower a reatial extension in back olong Broad Canal way

SoMa includes the renovation / repositioning of stuff in the old MIT Press Building and building a relatively small structure near the edge of the existing building on Ames and Main

Coincidentally, Tomorrow [Tuesday] there is a Status update meeting mostly designed for the MIT Community
http://kendallsquare.mit.edu/update...ctober-18-provide-overview-construction-plans

No worries. I been working on this project (at least the South side) for better than 2 years at this point. While that means I sometimes have inside info, it also means I can't share it until it's public.

 

[tangent]

Tangent -- here's a video that MIT prepared to showcase the concept as part of the MIT Celebration of the Centennial of the MIT Cambridge Campus [May 1916 to 2016]

https://youtu.be/LHCoRam4HQ8

Note that some of the individual building designs have evolved since this was produced

Thanks for the link. Still I think the issue is that they have a wall of buildings that effectively block campus from Kendall. Would be good to see a way for MIT Museum to provide not just a great space, but also that gateway connection to campus to replace this view with some clear entrance to the campus when you are coming from Kendall:
https://goo.gl/maps/gN59WMxHQiT2

 

[SeamusMcFly]

Thanks for the link. Still I think the issue is that they have a wall of buildings that effectively block campus from Kendall. Would be good to see a way for MIT Museum to provide not just a great space, but also that gateway connection to campus to replace this view with some clear entrance to the campus when you are coming from Kendall:
https://goo.gl/maps/gN59WMxHQiT2

I believe that is the intent of the new Kendall T station head house gap in between buildings 4 & 5.

The T station itself will be a bit more eye catching itself, but will be nestled between two high rises with active ground levels. This entrance will be in direct eye shot of those coming out of the outbound head house across the raised cross walk.

238 might be a nice historic building, but those two head houses are definitely the lesser of the 4, so don't really lend themselves to being a gateway.

Beyond the new "gateway" the view opens up to new green open space, and extension of the infinite corridor. It's not quite walking thru the gate from Harvard Sq. into Harvard Yard type of gateway, but a definite improvement on creating that "sense of space" people talk about.