MIT: down the 'Infinity Corridor'

18th May 2017

MIT - a MIghTy name indeed!- that's what people say. Many of my friends and those in family had congratulated me upon learning that I would be visiting the campus to be part of a presentation there (may find details at the end of this note). However, just before starting the campus tour on a sunny morning in May, a little piece of information that the campus is spread over only 168 acres had robbed MIT of all its might for at least a minute for me! To build the contrast, I was visiting it from a 2,100-acre campus of IIT Kharagpur. However, me being stupid, I failed to realize that the size of an educational campus and its prestige are not correlated!

Despite the initial dig, what had still hold interest was the opportunity to visit an array of buildings designed by notable architects: Eero Sarinnen, Alvar Aalto, I. M. Pei, Charles Correa (the last two to have studied at MIT), and Frank Gehry. I was thrilled at the anticipation of witnessing some of their notable works which I have studied and sketched as an undergraduate student.

Part of MIT campus with notable architecture marked in red (Source: web.mit.edu, highlights by author)

When one approaches the premise, there is no monumental gate announcing that you are now entering the Institute Campus. Approaching from north on the Massachusetts Avenue (abbreviated as 'Mass-Av'), the first notable building is Building 7 - Rogers Building - with a high colonnaded facade, and one enters the lobby of Building-7, i.e. 'Lobby-7'. It functions as the main entrance to the 251 m long 'Infinite Corridor' and rest of the campus. Inscription on the frieze of the dome reads 'Established for Advancement and Development of Science its Application to Industry the Arts Agriculture and Commerce. Charter MDCCCLXI' (i.e. 1861 when MIT's charter was approved). When we had entered it, a group of freshmen had started singing, and the melody had filled the monumental space 'under the dome', creating goosebumps! '

(From left) Building 7, 77 Massachusetts Ave; Lobby-7 inscription

Moving ahead on a self-guided tour of the campus, assisted by a map, we found ourselves at the Killian Court - the nucleus of the first set of 'Maclaurin' buildings to have come up when the institute shifted to its present campus in 1916. Designed by William Welles Bosworth, Building-10 - the central piece in the set - has a 'Pantheon-esque' dome (i.e. a dome similar to the one of Pantheon in Rome) under which sits the Berker Engineering Library - with a striking monumentality. What a privilege to read a book under the Great Dome!

(from left) Building 10 and Killian Court; Under the Great Dome - Berker Engg. Library

Walking along the 'Infinite Corridor' one can find a pulsating environment! This is the main artery of MIT. Constantly, it is being crossed by students and faculty - rushing to their lectures and laboratories. The corridor reminded me of the one in the main building at IIT Kharagpur! Notice boards speak of the immense diversity of student community here. Spaces are reserved on the boards for various student-led societies: such as South Asian Association of Students (SAAS), Association of Taiwanese Students, Latinos in Science & Engineering!

Infinite Corridor

Next, we passed across few of the buildings designed by architect I. M. Pei - a graduate from MIT itself. Green Building (1962-64) is the tallest building in the campus. The fore court has a sculpture by Alexander Calder titled 'The Big Sail'. The wedge shaped Landau Building caught my attention.

(from left) Green Building and 'The Big Sail'; Landau Building at the center

Sticking true to his theme, Frank O. Gehry has once again created a signature 'Gehry' design with the Ray and Maria Stata Center for Computer, Information and Intelligence Sciences in 2004. As it was lunch time, we found people to have queued in front of a food-truck parked next to Stata Center. On our visit to Sloan School of Management, we grabbed something to eat at their canteen, While we were munching on our sandwiches, a lady announced that there were some free pastries available at the counter. This is supposedly common in American Universities, as I have learnt it, that left-over food from meetings get distributed as 'free food'. Liked it!

Ray & Maria Stata Center by Architect Frank O. Gehry (2004)

Finally, we were at the Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) - where many from my academic circle would be interested in getting into for a degree program. The next day, we had a presentation in our mixed groups to a panel of invited experts, which did go well. Post-presentation, I had an opportunity to visit a typical architectural design studio at MIT. As expected, the studio was strewn with study models in every shape and size, exuding a sense of a vibrant active space. Fabrication Lab would engage students to carve out their design-models using advanced 3D printing machines and laser cutters.

DUSP: city's satellite image panel on staircase; lobby; active notice board

Just across the Building 7 on Mass-Av is Stratton Student Center with an interesting installation placed in front of it. The adjoining plaza has two significant works by architect Eero Saarinen to have come up in 1955: Kresge Auditorium and the non-denominational MIT Chapel. These works are human in scale and represent simplicity at their best.

MIT Chapel (on left) and Kresge Auditorium; inside the auditorium

Visiting MIT Chapel was a great experience. It was dark outside at 9:30 pm and I was alone. The chapel is a fairly small brick cylinder surrounded by a moat. I wasn't sure if the chapel will be open at that hour, and just ventured into through the open door of the connecting block and walked towards the inner chamber. It was dark inside the chapel and none could be seen; and the moment I entered the chapel, lights were on automatically - it was scary! A wide beam of light was filtering in above the altar as if it was raining. Basically, light on a hanging display of an array of small bell-metal plates had created that mystic effect. Light from the ceiling on undulating brick wall of the chapel had created a wavy effect. The chairs were placed in order, as if their occupants are soon to arrive. Before long, I decided to leave the place. On my way out I came across the plaque which read:

"The building gives embodiment to the responsibility of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to maintain an atmosphere of religious freedom wherein students may deepen their understanding of their own spiritual heritage, freely pursue their own religious interests, and worship God in their own way."

MIT Chapel (indoors)

Overall, the visit to MIT was great. I dud get to visit some 'starchitecture' (i.e. star architecture) from different decades. Missed visiting the building designed by Charles Correa and getting into the LIST Visual Arts Center. Basically, I realized that to connect to a place, one needs to associate with some of the activities there, being a part of it (i.e.attending a degree program or a workshop). This institute must have witnessed many seeds of innovation to germinate and have nurtured them to grow into brilliant ideas. The medley of intellect here, across batches, have given birth to numerous societies and think tanks. I am sure a Science and Technology enthusiast would love to be here. However, simply visiting it as an outsider won't really help in realizing the potential of this place, tap on the vibrancy of it. I hope MIT will give me an opportunity to become an insider - sooner or later!

Note:
As part of IIT-MIT India Practicum, student teams from both the Schools of Architecture and Planning from IIT Kharagpur in India (where I am currently pursuing doctoral research) and MIT in the USA had participated in a joint planning studio to study the dynamics of development in Santiniketan in West Bengal, India. The joint team had conducted a field visit to Santiniketan - the abode of peace - where Rabindranath Tagore had rooted the seeds of a university - 'Visva Bharati' - which is close to nature and humanistic studies. Over a semester, the student teams had interacted over the internet, and came up with proposals, which they did present to a panel of experts over a one-day colloquium held at MIT on May 19, 2017.

IIT-MIT team on the steps of Building-7 at 77, Massachusetts Aevenue