MIT Museum/Book Store | née Boeing | 314 Main St. | Kendall Square

Equilibria

Equilibria

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A request was made to split this off with this morning's lease news:

http://news.mit.edu/2018/boeing-kendall-square-initiative-first-major-tenant-0801

MIT-Boeing-314-Main-02.jpg


Basement construction has begun. Vertical construction in Fall 2018. Occupancy in 2020. 17 floors, 250'.
 
That museum is going to be awesome. 57000 square feet dedicated to bringing understanding of science to public. Will be a huge addition to our cultural landscape!
 
I really like the building and the museum element, but I think the biggest story here is Boeing moving in as a tenant. The defense industry is all over Mass, but not in the urban core. This could lead to Raytheon and any number of other defense contractors piling on to establish R&D outposts in Kendall square, trying to get a piece of the young talent. I think that will be a good thing for the industry and adding some electronic hardware companies (not to mention big iron) bolsters Boston’s economic diversity.
 
fattony said:
I really like the building and the museum element, but I think the biggest story here is Boeing moving in as a tenant. The defense industry is all over Mass, but not in the urban core. This could lead to Raytheon and any number of other defense contractors piling on to establish R&D outposts in Kendall square, trying to get a piece of the young talent. I think that will be a good thing for the industry and adding some electronic hardware companies (not to mention big iron) bolsters Boston’s economic diversity.
Click to expand...

FWIW Raytheon is already in Alewife.
 
nepatz11 said:
That museum is going to be awesome. 57000 square feet dedicated to bringing understanding of science to public. Will be a huge addition to our cultural landscape!
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This along with the GE museum at their headquarters in Fort Point. Can't wait!
 
That ones going to be great too.

I’ve said it before but if we could just now get a world class history museum in Boston it would be amazing. Really too bad the Boston Museum project stalled. I think with all the historical resources in this region you could have an amazing museum that told the story of America through the lens of Massachusetts. Bring it all under one roof. Then you could filter tourists out to all the signs and destinations. Plymouth (The Pilgrims), Lowell (The industrial revolution) Salem (precolonial and witch trials) Lexington concord etc The list could go on and on.

As it stands I’m pumped for this museum. Going to try to bring materials lie quantum mechanics and relativity to public
 
nepatz11 said:
That museum is going to be awesome. 57000 square feet dedicated to bringing understanding of science to public. Will be a huge addition to our cultural landscape!
Click to expand...


The existing MIT museum is pretty cool, but constrained in space given the enormity of MIT's own history and growing collections. Also the existing address at 265 Massachusetts Ave is very much out of the way and not well known.

MIT lacked a real focal point of public presence in Kendall and this is the perfect location which gives MIT a new way to interact with the Kendall community and greater public... and not to mention it was previously mostly a surface parking lot so no great loss there.

One of the very first things someone might see from the T station there and a real gateway to MIT campus from Kendall.

And now it will also a very prominent location for Boeing.
 
fattony said:
I really like the building and the museum element, but I think the biggest story here is Boeing moving in as a tenant. The defense industry is all over Mass, but not in the urban core. This could lead to Raytheon and any number of other defense contractors piling on to establish R&D outposts in Kendall square, trying to get a piece of the young talent. I think that will be a good thing for the industry and adding some electronic hardware companies (not to mention big iron) bolsters Boston’s economic diversity.
Click to expand...

Boeing going here is a great fit for MIT, Kendall Square and Boeing. I think it says even more about MIT's strategic engagement with the Kendall Square community and means more good things moving forward.
 
tangent said:
One of the very first things someone might see from the T station there and a real gateway to MIT campus from Kendall.

And now it will also a very prominent location for Boeing.
Click to expand...

Looking at the bold, wing-like cantilever of the T's headhouse, wouldn't it be cool if Boeing "donated" a wing (a 727 would work) for that overhang?

(Source of my silly idea)
 
Beton Brut said:
Looking at the bold, wing-like cantilever of the T's headhouse, wouldn't it be cool if Boeing "donated" a wing (a 727 would work) for that overhang?

(Source of my silly idea)
Click to expand...

No, because I don't want the defining flavor of Kendall to be Boeing.
 
Gameguy326 said:
No, because I don't want the defining flavor of Kendall to be Boeing.
Click to expand...

Fair enough that a wing motif might be better suited for on/within Boeing's leased space. Though I think it's a cool idea, and would not be hugely imposing.

Also, is your comment really fair in light of:
* This
* This
* or This ?
...do you really think there's a risk of one such installation establishing a "defining flavor of Kendall"?

I mean, the beauty of Kendall is that its a multi-industry tech hub. I think it's cool to showcase artifacts from its various realms.
 
bigpicture7 said:
Fair enough that a wing motif might be better suited for on/within Boeing's leased space. Though I think it's a cool idea, and would not be hugely imposing.

Also, is your comment really fair in light of:
* This
* This
* or This ?
...do you really think there's a risk of one such installation establishing a "defining flavor of Kendall"?

I mean, the beauty of Kendall is that its a multi-industry tech hub. I think it's cool to showcase artifacts from its various realms.
Click to expand...

Will be interesting to see how they brand the space that Boeing leases. And to see if Boeing sponsors any exhibits in the museum space. And how they manage the museum/retail/restaurant space and the leased space above. Separate but not too separate.

Just very exciting to see this come together.
 
bigpicture7 said:
Fair enough that a wing motif might be better suited for on/within Boeing's leased space. Though I think it's a cool idea, and would not be hugely imposing.

Also, is your comment really fair in light of:
* This
* This
* or This ?
...do you really think there's a risk of one such installation establishing a "defining flavor of Kendall"?

I mean, the beauty of Kendall is that its a multi-industry tech hub. I think it's cool to showcase artifacts from its various realms.
Click to expand...

All of those are private property. I don't want Boeing's wing on public space. I'm fine with it being, say, as an awning of an entrance to their building; that could be cool.
 
Pouring the first level of the core today and setting a second crane base.
 
I wonder how long before this thread derails into why the Boeing 747 still has 4 engines or if the Airbus A350 will crush the 787. I give it to page 5.
 
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