MIT Campus

Originally founded in Boston, MIT relocated to Cambridge in 1916. The Institute is an integral part of the city, a diverse and vibrant community of approximately 118,200 residents noted for its history, intellectual life, and thriving innovation climate. The city hosts more than 36,000 college and university students, many of whom live within its 6.26 mi² (16.21 km²).

MIT’s campus extends more than a mile along the Charles River. At its heart is a group of interconnecting buildings, designed by architect W. Welles Bosworth (Class of 1889), that facilitate interaction and communication among MIT’s schools and departments.

The campus architecture showcases a range of styles, from neoclassical through modernist, brutalist, and deconstructivist. Among the timeless landmarks on campus are buildings designed by leading architects such as Alvar Aalto, Frank Gehry, Fumihiko Maki, I. M. Pei ’40, and Eero Saarinen. Inside, state-of-the-art facilities support MIT’s research efforts in multiple disciplines. These facilities range from wet labs, clean rooms, and makerspaces to wind tunnels, robot and drone test labs, and a nanotechnology and advanced imaging center.

Recently completed major capital projects include the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and the Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building. Ongoing projects include a substantial renovation of the historic Metropolitan Storage Warehouse as a hub for design and the new home for the School of Architecture and Planning.

For students, the campus has 20 residence halls (11 for undergraduates and nine for graduate students and families), each with its own distinctive personality and community. Newer additions to this lineup include Graduate Junction for graduate students and the New Vassar Residence Hall for undergraduates.

Urban and walkable, the campus encourages sustainable practices in many ways, offering gardens and green spaces, bike-share stations, and free shuttles. 

At its edges, the campus merges with various Cambridge neighborhoods, including Kendall Square—where the close association of industry and research expertise has made this area the most innovative square mile on the planet.

Pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly, Cambridge has six subway stations, a commuter rail line, 27 bus routes, more than 80 bike-share stations, dedicated bicycle lanes, and numerous shuttles and bikeways, all of which enable visitors and residents to get around without a car.