The revitalization of the Stratton Student Center at MIT provided a major new lounge, multi-purpose spaces, and a retail “mall” area. The 110,000 square foot renovation also included a new food court style servery, a 425-seat main dining room, and two new kitchens. In addition, conference and dining spaces have been provided elsewhere in the building with associated systems for catering distribution and support.

As part of the program development and preliminary design phase, we worked with MIT in establishing a university wide survey for design input from students. By working in a cooperative effort, a successful design has achieved the goals of the various user groups: students, faculty, alumni, parents, guests and neighborhood residents.

Over 300 tons of concrete were removed from the existing building — much of it to create a new 3-story atrium in the center of the complex. The atrium provides immediate stairways and visual connections from the main retail level to the dining services on the second floor, and a student-run coffee house on the third floor, thus relieving pressure on the buildings’ existing elevators.

During the course of the 18-month fast-track construction process, the dining service and the upper two floors of the building remained in operation.

Bruner/Cott expanded the main kitchen, and constructed a new service elevator entirely dedicated to food service and conference catering.