MIT Campus

Originally founded in Boston, MIT relocated to Cambridge in 1916. The Institute is an integral part of the city, a diverse and vibrant community of approximately 118,400 residents noted for its history, intellectual life, and thriving innovation climate. The city hosts more than 48,000 college and university students, many of whom live within its 6.26 mi² (16.21 km²).

MIT’s campus extends more than a mile along the Charles River. At its heart is a group of interconnecting buildings, designed by architect W. Welles Bosworth (Class of 1889), that facilitate interaction and communication among MIT’s schools and departments.

The campus architecture showcases a range of styles, from neoclassical through modernist, brutalist, and deconstructivist. Among the timeless landmarks on campus are buildings designed by leading architects such as Alvar Aalto, Frank Gehry, Steven Holl, Fumihiko Maki, I. M. Pei ’40, and Eero Saarinen. Inside, state-of-the-art facilities support MIT’s research efforts in multiple disciplines. These facilities range from wet labs, clean rooms, and makerspaces to wind tunnels, robot and drone test labs, and a nanotechnology and advanced imaging center.

Current major capital projects include a new music building, the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, and a substantial renovation of the historic Metropolitan Storage Warehouse as a hub for design and the new home for the School of Architecture and Planning.

For students, the campus has 19 residence halls (11 for undergraduates and eight for graduate students and families), each with its own distinctive personality and community. Newer additions to this lineup include the New Vassar Residence Hall for undergraduates and the E37 graduate tower in Kendall Square. A new graduate student residence (Graduate Junction) will open in 2024.

Urban and walkable, the campus encourages sustainable practices in many ways, offering gardens and green spaces, bike-share stations, and free shuttles. At its edges, the campus merges with various Cambridge neighborhoods, including Kendall Square—where the close association of industry and research expertise has made this area the most innovative square mile on the planet.

Pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly, Cambridge has six subway stations, a commuter rail line, 27 bus routes, 80 bike-share stations, dedicated bicycle lanes, and numerous shuttles and bikeways, enabling visitors and residents to get around without a car.