MIT Physics of Living Systems Lab and Office

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

The Physics of Living Systems is a research group, part of the Physics Department, led by Jeff Gore and Nikta Fakhri. Their focus is to “advance the understanding of living systems across scales.” The primary purpose of the project was to relocate the research group from an existing space off campus, to a new location centrally located on campus, in Building 4 of the “main group.” Their space needs included shared offices for the researchers with plenty of shared collaborative space for research discussions; and a lab, modeled after the group’s existing lab, with benching, environmental rooms, optical lab, and microscopy room.

For the new office suite, on the 3rd floor, the design maximizes the shared space for collaboration by placing mobile furniture and whiteboards in the long corridor that runs the length of the suite with a large open gathering space at the center, where larger discussions can take place. Voluminous vacant space on the 4th floor making up the interior of a ziggurat structure with 30’ tall ceilings, was chosen for the new location. The design approach included a new mezzanine and stair to provide necessary to fit the program.

• TEAM:

  Principal in Charge: Rick Jones
  Project Director: Samuel Clement

• COLLABORATORS:

  MEP/FP, FA, Tel Data:
  Vanderweil Engineers

  Structural Engineer:
  Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

  Code Consultant:
  Code Red

  Specifications Consulting:
  Kalin Associates, Inc

  Lighting Consulting:
  Boston Light Source