Campbell-McCabe Worldwide Consults on new 56,000sf MIT Museum

Cambridge, MA – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently completed its new MIT Museum, located on campus at 314 Main St. in the Kendall Square Gateway district. The museum was relocated from its previous home, and now occupies the first three floors of the Gambrill Center, a multi-use building on MIT’s East Campus.

Campbell-McCabe Worldwide, LLC assisted the Höweler + Yoon Architecture design team on the new 56,000sf space, which opened to the public last fall. The museum includes a ground floor lobby, classrooms and exhibition spaces.

Susan McCabe Messier, DHT, principal and owner, Campbell-McCabe Worldwide, LLC, said one unique aspect of the project is the lobby, which includes curtainwall-glass door entrances. Campbell-McCabe provided door hardware specifications and consulting services to ensure the doors were ADA accessible while upholding the university’s standards for security and card reader access control.

Second floor classrooms include floor to ceiling glass curtainwalls with frameless, all glass doors. CampbellMcCabe recommended CRL overhead door closers to accommodate the weight and size of the doors while staying true to the design intent.

Höweler + Yoon Architecture requested an invisible opening in the gallery space in order for museum staff to conveniently store art between shows and exhibitions. Campbell-McCabe put together a flush door and hardware package to accomplish this goal, creating seamless continuity of the show space.

McCabe Messier said, “This new museum really showcases the university’s commitment to promoting freedom of thought and exploration throughout the space. We enjoyed working with the team to create an experience for visitors that contributes to that spirit and in designing a place for the entire community to appreciate and enjoy.”