Enhancements to our living, dining, and gathering spaces

Dear students,

I write to share updates about all sorts of progress in making student life better – from grocery options and graduate housing to coffee and conversations. Also, I encourage you to take a look at the campus events calendar, which offers a variety of activities and entertainment. Lastly, please make a plan to vote!

Sincerely,

Suzy M. Nelson
Vice Chancellor for Student Life

Update on the Student Center

As you’ve probably noticed, the Student Center is buzzing with activity after an ambitious renovation. We set out to make it airier, brighter, and more comfortable across all three floors – and it’s wonderful to see graduate students and undergraduates taking advantage of these open study and meeting spaces. If you haven’t already, stop by the Wellbeing Lab; it’s a peaceful place to relax with activities like LEGO bricks, board games, and puzzles during the day and enjoy fun events on Friday nights.

• Progress continues on Concord Market. By springtime, we expect the Student Center to be home to a new grocery store. The Concord Market will offer fresh produce, made-to-order sandwiches, prepared foods, baked goods, daily specials, espresso and coffee drinks made from locally roasted beans, a full selection of groceries, and campus catering. Anticipated grocery hours will be 7 a.m.–10 p.m. daily.
• Additional food options. In other news, Dunkin’ has expanded its hours into the evenings and on Sundays to offer a quick snack. Also, check out the great food options available at the Launchpad – a food court with diverse food options chosen with student input – on the second floor of the Student Center.

New grad residence and continued housing renewal

We continue to make progress in revitalizing student housing. (In fact, we recently exceeded MIT's commitment to create 950 new graduate beds.)

• Graduate Junction opens to new residents. The new Graduate Junction residence opened to graduate students in August. The central plaza is already alive with events, including a recent farm stand with fresh local produce. The railroad crossing between the residence's two new buildings is again open and reconnecting communities on the west campus to Fort Washington Park and amenities in Cambridgeport.
• Planning for McCormick Hall renovation. Beginning next summer, McCormick Hall will undergo a targeted renewal of building systems and a refresh of resident and community spaces. The McCormick Hall Transition Team – composed of students, the house team, and staff – met recently with project architects to consider design elements they would most like to see in the renewed space. Because the process will require closing the building for two years, we’re taking special care to help the McCormick community hold on to its identity in the meantime, including ensuring suitable women-only living arrangements elsewhere.
• East Campus builds community. After 15 months, the renovation of East Campus is nearing completion. So that the space they’ll soon move back into feels inviting, EC community members have been creating a series of artboards to decorate the residence, and a student-centered reopening committee is providing input on everything from furniture selection to the logistics of returning the EC community to the parallels.

Refreshed spaces for recreation

Following a comprehensive renovation, the freshly tiled Alumni Pool in the Wang Fitness Center has reopened to the MIT community. Additionally, an 8,000-square-foot sports performance facility in Building W31 will soon open to support the strength and conditioning needs of more than 800 student-athletes across 33 varsity sports. It will also expand training and teaching opportunities for the broader student population.

Connection and conversation

It’s easy for all of us to stay stuck in our familiar patterns, but making new connections can be surprisingly fun. For instance, MindHandHeart offers Coffee & Conversations, a monthly drop-by event in Lobby 10 that welcomes everyone in the community to exchange ideas over a cup of coffee. From your residence hall community to your academic department, there are always opportunities and events to engage with each other.

Make a plan to vote

Whether you’ve participated in a MacGregor House debate watch party with Associate Head of House and Political Science Professor David Singer or plan to attend a talk on misinformation by Professor Adam Berinsky, there are many unique opportunities to engage and learn about the political process. The best way to show your engagement is to vote. As President Kornbluth wrote in early September, voter registration deadlines vary by state – with many being imminent – so it is important to make a plan to vote by Tuesday, November 5.