Kendall/MIT Infill and Small Developments

Gameguy326 said:
How long is the lease for?
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That info seems to be missing from the articles. I'd thought I'd heard in the past that they've done 100-year ground leases, and would suspect that might be the case here too.
 
That's a bold move by MIT. They're essentially saying they don't need this space for academic expansion in the next 100 years. I'm surprised; I didn't think it would be that long.
 
Interesting that the angled floor plate look is done with add-ons instead of being structural, they're falsies. The only sour note is the clunky exhaust stack, should have been more modernist. This will be a fine industrial addition to MIT.
 
I don't know if this has yet been mentioned, and I'm not sure it counts as a small project or infill, but the new building MIT has commissioned for music will be behind Kresge. It appears that the design architect will be SANAA, which is (at least to me) quite exciting.

https://capitalprojects.mit.edu/projects/music-building
 
Gameguy326 said:
That's a bold move by MIT. They're essentially saying they don't need this space for academic expansion in the next 100 years. I'm surprised; I didn't think it would be that long.
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MIT uses itself as an investment vehicle -- with a very good return.

The MIT Real Estate Development operation is just one way the overall MIT Investment Elements grow the Endowment and then harvest Endowment $ into operating cash.
It's just an alternative to investing in the market. As a result MIT is typically able to out do Harvard' rate of return because to significant part of its income comes from the very successful Real Estate Development operation located mostly just behind MIT.

If you are new to the "Greater Kendall Universe" it might seem strange for a university to act the way MIT does. The process is really quite simple:

  1. MIT buys property when its available [typically cheap] and may hold it empty or at a low return type of rental [tenants sometimes at will] until the right time -- sometimes many years later
  2. at the right time -- MIT acts as the Master Developer, building on the original land or even refurbishing
  3. after the construction -- MIT may operate the now much more valuable building as a landlord
    [*] After some time -- they often sell the now fully tnnanted building just like any other developer would to get some free cash -- the difference is that MIT NEVER sells any of its land -- it just sells long-term ground leases to either completed buildings or occasionally a combination of a building and additional land.
    [*] the cycle repeats -- ad infinitum until all of Cambridge not owned by Harvard will be owned by MIT


MIT owns a lot of land surrounding the academic campus -- most of which is not likely to be needed for any MIT operational function. There was back in my days [1970's] as an undergrad at the "Tute' -- a popular bumper sticker based on the Latin quote from Julius Caesar
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres
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The bumper sticker said
Cantabridgia est divisa in duas partes [Harvard & MIT]
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-- the Latin might have been slightly garbled -- bit the sentiment is quite real -- and more so after Volpe is redone
 
Not sure, but folks may want to track this in it's own thread, depending on the architectural scope of the addition, and/or because I know people consider this an architecturally significant building.


MIT Green Building Rehab & Expansion
-New multi-level glass pavilion at the base of the tower
-Facade restoration on the tower
-Roof replacement
-Various interior renovation/systems rehab

Article:
https://spectrum.mit.edu/summer-2019/a-major-expansion-for-the-green-building/
From facilities dept:
https://web.mit.edu/facilities/construction/updates.shtml#54
Render:
a-major-expansion-for-the-green-building-01-1260x749.jpg
 
Gameguy326 said:
MIT to construct new, cutting-edge Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel
Largest, most advanced U.S. academic tunnel will replace 79-year-old facility; Boeing is project’s lead donor with philanthropic commitment.

http://news.mit.edu/2017/mit-construct-new-cutting-edge-wright-brothers-wind-tunnel-1113


Bill Litant

MIT has announced it will replace its venerable 79-year-old Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel with a new facility that will be the largest and most advanced academic wind tunnel in the United States.

To facilitate construction of the new tunnel and ongoing operations, Boeing has made a funding pledge to become the $18-million-project’s lead donor. Boeing’s gift reflects a century-long relationship between the company and MIT that helped ignite the global aerospace industry, and it confirms a commitment to research and development that will fuel future innovation.
Like its predecessor, the new tunnel will be operated by the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and it will retain the Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel name.

The new tunnel will:

-permit increased test speeds, from the current 150 miles per hour to 200 miles per hour;

-greatly improve research data acquisition;

-halve the power requirements of the original 2,000 horsepower fan motor;
increase test section volume from 850 cubic feet to 1,600 cubic feet, and test section area from 57 square feet to 80 square feet;

-improve ability to test autonomous vehicles (“drones”) and aerodynamic components including wings, bodies, and wind turbines; and
enable new MIT classes in advanced aerodynamics and fluid mechanics.

The new Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel will be situated in the same location as its predecessor. Building 17, which is located to the right of the tunnel and contains its controls, will have a new structure added to the rear for an elevator and access bridge to AeroAstro’s Neumann Hangar.

More in the article. Architect seems to be Imai Keller Moore Architects.

MIT-Wright-Brothers-Wind-Tunnel-00_2.jpeg
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Looks like work has begun on the new Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel.
IMG_2873 by Bos Beeline, on Flickr

IMG_2874 by Bos Beeline, on Flickr

IMG_2876 by Bos Beeline, on Flickr

IMG_2878 by Bos Beeline, on Flickr

Rear by Bos Beeline, on Flickr
 
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BeeLine said:
Looks like work has begun on the new Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel.
IMG_2873 by Bos Beeline, on Flickr
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img2_0.jpg




MIT-Wright-Brothers-Wind-Tunnel-00_2.jpeg

Render of the New Boeing-sponsored Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel
The new Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel will be situated in the same location as its predecessor. Building 17, which is located to the right of the tunnel and contains its controls, will have a new structure added to the rear for an elevator and access bridge to AeroAstro’s Neumann Hangar.

Image courtesy of Imai Keller Moore Architects
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supposed to be finished by the end of 2020
 
Goodbye ol' friend. You were a hell of a steel fabrication job in your day, gave rise to numerous acheivements in aviation, and even helped Boston deal with its Hancock Tower wind issues/tuned mass damper solution. Here's to hoping your replacement will have a similar legacy.

Picture1.png
 
bigpicture7 said:
Goodbye ol' friend. You were a hell of a steel fabrication job in your day, gave rise to numerous acheivements in aviation, and even helped Boston deal with its Hancock Tower wind issues/tuned mass damper solution. Here's to hoping your replacement will have a similar legacy.
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The old one was designed to operate both at well below and well above atmospheric pressure -- there was a hellavalotta force on those walls
 
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