The Site 5 building at MIT, located at 314 Main Street, is a 17-story structure designed by Weiss/Manfredi. It serves as a strategic gateway between the city of Cambridge and the MIT campus. Architecturally, the building features a crystalline form and terracotta chroma, which connect the city’s architectural heritage with a forward-looking vision. The ground floor is highly transparent, housing active retail spaces and the lobbies for the MIT Museum and MIT Press. The upper floors offer column-free, flexible spaces designed for incubator offices and research.
The building’s design emphasizes sustainability, with a high-performance building envelope that optimizes natural light and incorporates energy and water-efficient systems. The integration of public and private programs, along with its connection to the adjacent MBTA station and green spaces, fosters community interaction and contributes to the vibrancy of Kendall Square.
