As part of a building use study for MIT, HMFH has developed a two-phase option for renovation and expansion of Building W31/Dupont Gymnasium. In the first phase, the red brick historic armory and gymnasium, built in 1901 and never comprehensively renovated, will be repurposed for use as a student activities center, providing headquarters for a number of student organizations.
In the second phase, a two-story bridge building will connect the castle-like W31 and the 1960’s Stratton Student Center. The bridge building houses a student “sand box”, an informal collaborative workspace that fosters student project initiatives by providing the physical infrastructure, equipment, and collaborative spaces to support innovation and entrepreneurship in the digital world. The new structure’s striking glass entry pavilion provides a clear entrance into the unified student center complex and engages the pedestrian, bicycle, and motor traffic that utilize the bustling corner of campus. A new bus stop/plaza in front of the complex for the MIT shuttle further anchors the new center’s status as a hub for the campus community.