MIT Beaver Works

MIT BEAVER WORKS

Merge Architects

MIT Beaver Works
© David Bragdon

ARCHITECT
Merge Architects

DESIGN TEAM
Allison Austin, Amy Garlock, Deb Katz, Parker Lee

MEP ENGINEER
BLW Engineers

PROJECT MANAGER
Jamie Pelletier

CONTRACTOR
J. Calnan And Associates Inc.

PROJECT ARCHITECT
Anne-sophie Divenyi

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Elizabeth Whittaker

PHOTOGRAPHER
John Horner Photography , David Bragdon

AREA
4875 Ft²

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Cambridge, United States

CATEGORY
Laboratory, Research Center, Interior Design

MIT Beaver Works
© David Bragdon

This multi-use research and collaboration space was developed for students, faculty, and technical professionals in the Tech Square hub near MIT’s campus in Cambridge.

Beaver Works, a joint center for MIT Lincoln Laboratory and MIT School of Engineering, serves as a work space and showcase where students and faculty develop and test ideas for incorporation into the National Defense portfolio.

MIT Beaver Works
© John Horner Photography
MIT Beaver Works
© David Bragdon

Along with a research lab, the space incorporates a café/lounge area, meeting rooms, and a prototyping shop, where affiliates can carry out design/build research projects.

In addition to meeting the basic functional requirements of the project with fabrication facilities, Merge Architects utilized highly flexible custom design elements and multi-layered transparency.

MIT Beaver Works
© John Horner Photography
MIT Beaver Works
© John Horner Photography

To address the primary function of the space: to attract and retain innovative thinkers with an architectural language that enables collaboration between researchers and galvanizes creative thinking.

The primary social node of the project is the café/lounge area which serves as a hub between the laboratory, classrooms, and entry way.

MIT Beaver Works
© John Horner Photography
MIT Beaver Works
© John Horner Photography

A wedge-shaped transparent entry zone carved out of the café and lounge space blurs the boundary between public and private, extending the public space of the hallway into the café.

Also providing daylight and views to the outdoors for the windowless multi-tenant corridor. Similarly, punched windows provide views between the corridor and the secured lab area.

A kitchen island, bar area, and ample lounge seating facilitate socializing and the exchange of ideas.

MIT Beaver Works
© David Bragdon
MIT Beaver Works
© David Bragdon
MIT Beaver Works
© David Bragdon

The custom millwork throughout the space is constructed from Radiatta pine, a modest material typically used as a backer for more expensive wood, but here is deployed for the graphic quality of its variegated knots and coloring to maximum effect.

Merge Architects designed and assembled the two primary design elements in the lounge and laboratory, a meeting pod and felt pendant lights, realizing the faceted forms with a combination of digital modelling, CNC-milling, and hand-crafted assembly.

MIT Beaver Works
© David Bragdon
MIT Beaver Works
© David Bragdon
MIT Beaver Works
© David Bragdon

Merge worked closely throughout the design and construction process with RadLab, a fabrication consultant, assisting with the creation of a fabrication model and in the field with assembly and finishing.

MIT Beaver Works
© David Bragdon
MIT Beaver Works
© David Bragdon
MIT Beaver Works
© David Bragdon


MIT Beaver Works
Diagram
MIT Beaver Works
Diagram
MIT Beaver Works
Diagram
MIT Beaver Works
Diagram


MIT Beaver Works
Floor plan
MIT Beaver Works
Program plan