As part of an agreement with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), MIT is working on a redevelopment project for the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, a Kendall Square site in close proximity to the MIT campus. In addition to constructing a new federal building, MIT plans to create a dynamic mixed-use center on the site, building on the Cambridge community’s extensive planning and visioning efforts to increase housing, open space, and retail activity, along with commercial, laboratory, and innovation space.

This project began with a lengthy bidding process, after which the GSA selected MIT as its partner to construct the new federal building. After completing utility-enabling work on the Volpe parcel in 2019, MIT commenced work on behalf of the federal government to begin the new facility for the Volpe Transportation Center. Recent progress includes completion of the base building, and work is progressing on schedule with interior construction and exterior landscape improvements. The federal building project is expected to be completed in 2023.

After a robust community engagement process, the Cambridge City Planning Board approved MIT’s plan for the remaining 10 acres of the Volpe site in the summer of 2021. Following the completion and acceptance of the federal building, MIT will take possession of these 10 acres and will commence development. Consistent with the zoning passed by the City Council in 2017, the proposed development includes nearly 3 million square feet of space, including 95,000 square feet of retail, four commercial buildings (for commercial office/laboratory space), four residential buildings (with approximately 1,400 new housing units), more than 3.5 acres of publicly beneficial open space, and a 25,000-square-foot community center. The proposed publicly-accessible open space includes a large park at the corner of Third Street and Broadway, a linear park adjacent to Sixth Street/Loughrey Way, a park adjacent to the community center, and a pocket park on Binney Street.

MIT commenced the design phase for below-grade infrastructure, individual buildings, and open spaces in 2022. Design review for the initial buildings is expected to take place in 2023.