East Campus Renovation

Project & Community Engagement Timeline

Both East Campus parallels are anticipated to close after MIT’s 2023 Commencement exercises and will remain unoccupied for the duration of the renovation period, which is expected to last for two academic years. 

Teams from DSL and HRS continue to work with EC residents to help identify community priorities.  This engagement and outreach effort includes the formation of the East Campus Transition Team (ECTT), which is composed of resident student leaders, members of the house team and staff across DSL.  A Renovation Advisory Committee (RAC) was also formed which includes students, alumni, faculty, Institute leaders and DSL staff.    

Anticipated Timeline for Project Engagement (subject to change)

• AY 2021–2022: Project design input
• AY 2022–2023: Planning for transition
• June 2023: Anticipated building closure
• AY 2023–2024: Supporting community continuity
• AY 2024–2025: Planning for EC's reopening in August 2025
• August 2025: Anticipated building reopening
   

VIEW TIMELINE AS PDF

A Collaborative Process

The project team and members of the East Campus Transition Team (ECTT) sponsored various community workshops throughout the 2021-2022 academic year to help gather input from community members about the project design and which features are important to EC residents.  These workshops were in addition to twelve ECTT meetings throughout the academic year.

In addition, the Renovation Advisory Committee (RAC), which includes students, alumni, faculty, Institute leaders and DSL staff, continues to hold meetings to provide insights into the renovation process and to help share information with various stakeholder groups. 

Resident Design Workshops
 

• Workshop #1 (11/17/2021)
  Topic: Understanding the EC Community
   
• Workshop #2 (01/11/2022) 
  Topic: Typical Floor: Corridor Life & Opportunities & Constraints
   
• Workshop #3 (01/28/2022)
  Topic: Typical Floor: Corridor Life
   
• Workshop #4 (02/08/2022) (virtual)
  Topic: Shared Amenities & Courtyard & Resources
   
• Workshop #5 (02/23/2022) 
  Topic: Shared Amenities & Courtyard & Resources
   
• Workshop #6 (03/30/2022) 
  Topic: Artwork Integration
   
• Workshop #7 (04/27/2022)
  Topic: Overall Review
   
• Workshop #8 (09/28/2022)
• Topic: Talbot Lounge & Makerspace
   
• Workshop #9 (10/06/2022)
• Topic: Kitchens & Overall Review

In Spring 2021, EC was selected as the next residential renewal project. This decision was based upon recommendations from MIT Campus Construction, the Office of Campus Planning (OCP), the Division of Student Life, and other partners.

The project is part of MIT’s 2030 campus renewal plan, a multi-billion dollar effort to improve the Institute’s physical campus, to enhance student and academic spaces, and to update building systems and infrastructure.

While infrastructure upgrades are at the core of this renewal project, the planning process will also focus on exciting opportunities to improve the student experience and to ensure that this historic residence hall can continue to serve the EC community for many years to come.  Accessibility improvements and sustainability goals will also be met through this project, along with enhancements to outdoor community spaces. Principles guiding this work include the 2016 Architectural Principles for MIT Undergraduate Residences.

1. Section 1: Project Information & Community Engagement 
2. Section 2: Alternative On-Campus Housing Options
3. Section 3: East Campus Community Priorities 
4. Section 4: Tier Pricing & Financial Aid
5. Section 5: Miscellaneous Items & Contact Information 

SECTION 1: PROJECT INFORMATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

When will East Campus be renovated?

• East Campus is scheduled to go offline after Commencement 2023 and will be closed for a two-year renovation.  East Campus is expected to fully reopen for the Fall 2025 term. 

Do all East Campus residents have to move out during the construction period?

• Yes.  Residents will need to move out when the parallels close after Commencement 2023 during the standard move-out dates for undergraduates.  Housing & Residential Services (HRS) will work with the heads of house, associate heads of house, area director and Graduate Resident Advisors (GRAs) to facilitate the timing of house team moves in June.  

What is the scope of the renovation?

• The renovation includes an extensive infrastructure and building systems update with enhancements to finishes and spaces to position the residence hall for the next 100 years.  This includes a thoughtful organization of the halls, a new community kitchen, upgrades to the Talbot Lounge, new music and fitness rooms, a reimagined makerspace with direct courtyard access, along with significant accessibility and sustainability improvements. 

How have East Campus residents been involved in the renovation planning process?

• The Division of Student Life (DSL) has worked extensively with East Campus leadership to assemble a Transition Team, which includes student residents, house team members and DSL staff. The group continues to identify student and community needs, surface renewal-related issues and develop strategies to address them.  The Transition Team has also been actively working with the project architects to provide input on the student life program elements of the renovation design, and working through the logistics of relocation and communicating with key stakeholders in East Campus.  
  
  The broader East Campus community has also engaged in nine community workshops to provide the project team and the architects with key input to help inform the project’s overall design.  Two resident-led tours of East Campus and the Fall 2022 REX build also provided the project team and architects with a first-hand look at the unique needs of the community. 

East Campus is a unique place with a rich history and a very engaged community.  How is MIT working to honor that through the renovation?

• Many efforts are underway to honor the unique culture that has been the hallmark of East Campus over the decades. We want to continue traditions while also leveraging this opportunity to enhance the physical environment to support students’ needs and evolving culture in the future. The project architects have engaged with residents throughout the process to get perspectives on the design and execution of the renovation. In fact, the architects have frequently remarked upon the level of passion and involvement students have demonstrated - it is like nothing they have seen before on other campuses. All ten individual floor communities will be preserved through this renovation project, as well as East Campus’ maker and cook-for-yourself cultures, and community spaces will be enhanced and divided between the two parallels as shared amenities for all residents.  The East Campus Transition Team continues to share community priorities with the project team and architects.

 Will East Campus remain a cook-for-yourself community?

• Yes.  East Campus will remain a cook-for-yourself community.  DSL understands and values the importance of the cook-for-yourself culture within East Campus.  The renovation includes plans to create a new community kitchen for the benefit of all residents, and to make significant upgrades to all of the hall kitchens.

What percentage of single and double rooms will exist in the renovated East Campus?

• The configuration of singles and doubles will align with the 2016 Architectural Principles for MIT Undergraduate Residences, with a ratio of 35-40% singles and the balance doubles.
   

SECTION 2: ALTERNATIVE ON-CAMPUS HOUSING OPTIONS

What alternative on-campus housing options are available to East Campus residents during the renovation period?

• East Campus residents may preference any of the other 10 on-campus residential communities (see housing grid, please note New House includes all cultural houses).  DSL will make every effort to offer students housing options that best match their preferences. The goal is to provide positive and supportive living experiences for all students, where each student feels welcomed in their new residence and is eager to participate fully in the life of the house in which they live during the renewal period.  At the same time, staff, space and resources will be in place to support EC community continuity throughout the renovation period.  This transition also offers EC students the opportunity to make new friends, and to contribute to other communities as they perpetuate their own.

Will East Campus residents be able to preference alternative on-campus housing options as part of a group?

• Yes.  The Building Switch process will be expanded to allow for groups of up to 8 East Campus residents to transfer together. This process was previously developed with DormCon and the Burton Conner Transition Team leading up to that community’s 2020-2022 renovation project.  Two groups of 8 may also choose to link together and request to be placed in the same building together as space allows.  Room Assignment Chairs (RACs) will make room assignments according to their in-house processes, and HRS cannot guarantee that all group members of a group will be able to live on the same floor as the spaces may not be available.

When will East Campus residents preference alternative housing options?

• East Campus residents will participate in the annual Housing Intent and Building Switch processes between Wednesday, February 15 and Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Building preferences shared by East Campus residents will receive priority as part of the Building Switch process.

Will current EC residents be guaranteed an assignment in East Campus when the residence hall reopens?  

• In alignment with the New House and Burton Conner renewal projects, students who lived in East Campus during Spring 2023 and either continue to live on campus or chose to move off campus during the renewal project will be guaranteed housing in East Campus when it reopens, as long as they are still eligible for undergraduate on-campus housing (i.e. are within their eight semesters of guaranteed housing and have not taken a leave of absence between Spring 2023 and the reopening of East Campus). 
  
  If an East Campus student resident takes a leave or separates from the Institute between Spring 2023 and the reopening of East Campus in Fall 2025, they will need to apply for housing through the waitlist process, which is subject to availability (current policy).  If an East Campus student (who took a leave) successfully returns to on-campus housing by Spring 2025 through the waitlist process, they will receive priority to live in East Campus when it reopens in Fall 2025.  

SECTION 3: EAST CAMPUS COMMUNITY PRIORITIES 

Will resident cat owners be able to relocate their cat to another on-campus residence hall?

• DSL recognizes the importance of cats for those who have them.  DSL staff have developed a proposed policy as a special exception to the campus Pet Policy to allow for East Campus cat owners to relocate their cats to another on-campus residence halls. Please see the relevant section of the East Campus Renovation Project website for complete details.

Are there specialized resources available for East Campus residents who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community? 

• Yes.  A subcommittee within the East Campus Transition Team is focusing specifically on supporting the East Campus LGBTQ+ community.  MIT also offers various resources through LGBTQ+ Services, and dedicated on-campus spaces such as the Rainbow Lounge on the Second Floor of Walker Memorial (50-250) for programming available to East Campus residents and all members of the MIT community. 

Will storage assistance be available for East Campus residents?

• Yes. A one-time storage benefit will be available to eligible East Campus residents to accommodate storage needs as they transition out of East Campus to other residence halls where personal storage is not provided. Beginning as soon as the 2023 Independent Activities Period (IAP), East Campus residents who need to store non-furniture items may utilize this benefit.  This service will cover Summer 2023 storage as well as spring semester storage if a resident will not live on campus during the spring semester.  The program will offer $200 (approximately four large boxes) toward storage with MIT’s preferred storage vendor, Piece by Piece Moving & Storage.  Additional details regarding this program are available on the storage section of this webpage. 

Will there be a dedicated community space for East Campus residents during the renovation period?

• Yes.  In collaboration with the East Campus Transition Team, staff from DSL are working to develop a dedicated community space for East Campus residents during the two-year renovation period.  While specific details are still under development, additional information, including the specific location and availability, will be shared with the East Campus community during the Spring 2023 semester.   

When the renovation is complete, will murals be allowed within East Campus?

• Creative expression is an important facet of campus life at MIT. Principles regarding student artwork in residential buildings were developed by an Undergraduate Housing Working Group in 2018–2019 with the goals of supporting opportunities for student artmaking, ensuring that art is curated, and aligning these activities with priorities for effective stewardship of the building.  Artwork will be permitted on panels in locations that were designated for displays as part of the East Campus architectural design process. The project architects are keenly aware of the importance of displaying community artwork and have incorporated these elements into the project design in collaboration with the East Campus Transition Team. 

Will there be an East Campus liaison to help maintain community continuity during the renovation period?

• Yes.  DSL is currently developing a plan, in collaboration with the East Campus Transition Team, to establish a Community Liaison (CL) position that will support East Campus residents and assist with community-building programming.  Additional information about the CL will be shared with the East Campus community during the Spring 2023 semester.     

SECTION 4: TIER PRICING & FINANCIAL AID

Will East Campus change to Tier 1 pricing after the renovation? 

• Yes.  In the past, when other residence halls have undergone major infrastructure and building system renovations, or new ones have been constructed, rates have been set at Tier 1 pricing.

Will the change to Tier 1 status impact residents’ financial aid?

• Financial aid packages are calculated based on the double room rate in a Tier 1 building and enrollment in the most comprehensive meal plan.  Financial aid does not change based on the housing or meal plan chosen, or if you choose to live off campus.  We know that housing costs may be top of mind for many East Campus residents, whether they decide to continue living on campus or move off campus during the renovation period. Please know that staff from Student Financial Services are available to answer any financial-related questions that East Campus community members may have. MIT also offers additional resources to assist students accessed via the DoingWell website, including short-term emergency funding to help students with unforeseen essential expenses or financial hardships.

Can returning East Campus residents from the Class of 2026 be “grandfathered” so they don’t have to pay Tier 1 rates?

• No.  Grandfathering rates presents many complications and questions about fairness for all residents in large part because housing rates are set to reflect the condition of the building. 

SECTION 5: MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS & CONTACT INFORMATION 

Which residence hall will be renewed after East Campus?

• No decisions about the next renewal project have been made yet.

Where can questions about the East Campus renovation be directed?

• The easiest way to reach us with questions, ideas, or concerns is by emailing eastcampus-renewal@mit.edu.   
   

The East Campus Approved Cats (ECAC) process was developed in collaboration with partners across the Division of Student Life (DSL), including staff from Housing & Residential Services (HRS), Residential Education (Res Ed) and Disabilities & Access Services (DAS), as well as with students from the East Campus Transition Team (ECTT). We recognize the importance of cats for those who have them and the ECAC process preserves this EC community tradition while respecting the cultures and environments of residence halls that will receive EC residents and cats during the renovation period.

Please note:

• A documented disability or mental health need is not required and ECACs will not be considered Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). 
• Separate from this ECAC process, EC residents have the option of requesting ESA status for their cats via DAS on the basis of a disability, if appropriate. 
• This approval process applies only to existing cats that were living in East Campus with a resident owner during Fall 2022.
• Each East Campus cat owner is permitted to relocate one cat to an alternative on-campus residence hall during the renovation period.
• All approved cats will be required to abide by the same reasonable guidelines and behavioral expectations that govern ESAs in residence halls as outlined below.

ECAC PROCESS

1. Each cat owner should complete this form to confirm attendance at a group ECAC Approval Meeting with HRS and DAS staff on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, from 12:00-1:00 pm ET in the Talbot Lounge. Lunch will be provided. If you are unable to attend this meeting, please email ecac-process@mit.edu.
    
   1. Staff will review guidelines and behavioral expectations, which are provided at the bottom of this email.
       
2. Cat owner must confirm the following required information. (Please note that EC cat owners can submit this information in advance) 
   1. Cat’s name
   2. Vaccination status (cats must be up-to-date on all vaccines. Please submit your cat’s most recent vaccination record)
   3. Two (2) photos of the cat
   4. Names and contact information for two (2) back-up caretakers
       
3. Cat owner will sign agreement acknowledging:
   1. Agreement to adhere to all ECAC guidelines;
   2. Understanding that this is a temporary approval for EC residents, effective only during the two-year construction period which is anticipated to conclude in August 2025; and
   3. The ECAC process is separate and distinct from an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) approval.
       
4. Final approval will be granted during the in-person group Approval Meeting. Cat owners are expected to pre-submit or come with the required information outlined in Item #2 above. 

If you have any questions, please email ecac-process@mit.edu. 

____________________________________________________________________________

ESA Guidelines and Behavioral Expectations

1. The cat must be housed in your room in a clean crate that remains locked at all times when you are not in the room.  
2. The cat is not to leave your room at any time without you.  At all times outside the room, the cat must be under control via a lead or tether.
3. The cat may not attend classes or enter any other buildings on the MIT campus.
4. You will need to show evidence that the cat has been vaccinated and is appropriately licensed.
5. The food must be kept in a sealed metal container.  MIT requires a metal container due to extensive local construction projects which attract mice and other rodents.
6. The crate must be kept clean at all times, and must be thoroughly cleaned at least once per week.  The waste must be disposed of properly.  Please check with your House Operations Manager as to where to dispose of feline waste.
7. The cat must be and remain free of ticks and fleas, and you must agree to permit periodic inspection.  You will be charged if MIT determines that pest removal is necessary.  The cat must be kept clean. 
8. You may not leave your cat overnight in the room of your residence hall, expecting someone else to care for it. Nor may you leave the cat unattended in excess of six (6) hours.
9. The cat is subject to removal if it creates an unmanageable disturbance or interference with the campus community.
10. Under no circumstances will MIT be responsible for the care of the cat, including during emergency evacuations.  If MIT must remove the cat, you will be billed for all costs incurred.
11. Relevant people, including staff from Housing & Residential Services (HRS), will be informed that you have been approved for this pet, through the appropriate MIT procedures, coordinated by HRS and Disability and Access Services.  If residents inquire as to why you have a pet, they will also be told that you have been approved through the appropriate MIT procedures, coordinated through HRS and Disability and Access Services.
12. You assume all responsibility for any damage to the room or other property incurred by the cat, absent normal wear and tear and all responsibility for any injury the cat may cause to others.

EC residents are eligible for a one-time personal storage benefit of $200 with Piece by Piece Movers & Storage. To take advantage of this benefit: 

1. Visit www.storagemit.com and either log-in or sign-up for an account with Piece by Piece Movers & Storage. 
2. Start a “New Order” and enter your “Student Info” about yourself
3. Packing supplies will be provided to East Campus at the end of April!
4. Note how many items you anticipate storing with Piece by Piece.  
   1. The one-time storage benefit of $200 is equal to 4 large boxes or 4 similarly sized items (or a combination of boxes/items) 
   2. Furniture will not be permitted into other campus residences
5. You can add-on insurance if you’d like it.
6. Piece by Piece will pick-up your items from predetermined Campus Storage Stations (note that one location is the EC Courtyard!). Stored items will be delivered back to campus (or to a local off-campus address within 3-miles of campus) at no additional charge!
7. For your “Returning Address,” East Campus residents can select “I do not have a housing assignment for next semester.” HRS will work with Piece by Piece movers to make sure your items are returned to your Fall 2023 housing assignment. 
8. Enter credit card information for any unforeseen charges and use promo code MITEASTCAMPUSONLY to receive the one-time $200 benefit. East Campus residents must use this promo code AND have a pick-up location from East Campus to be eligible for this benefit.
9. Confirm your information, and then print your personalized labels. 

Students should place their shipping/storage orders by Sunday, May 21, 2023. If you would like packing materials delivered to their room, you should place your order by Monday, May 15, 2023. The Shipping/Storage Station in the East Campus Courtyard, to which students must bring their items, will be open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm from Thursday, May 18 until Thursday May 25, 2023.  After May 25, one Shipping/Storage Station will remain open from 10:00am to 4:00pm from May 25 until May 28, 2028 on Amherst Alley.

If you have questions for Piece by Piece Movers, email pbp@cubiq.me or call 1-855-229-1234.

Connect with Us

Have a question about the renovation project?  Please click the link below to send us your question!  Staff from HRS and DSL will review and respond to your message. 
 

Submit Your Question

The East Campus Transition Team (ECTT) will serve as a working group to plan for the transition of the East Campus (EC) community due to the anticipated renovation and renewal of Buildings 62 and 64. Responsibilities of the group include:

• Raising renewal-related issues and developing strategies to address them;
• Working through relocation logistics, including housing assignments, community event and gathering spaces, community storage and other student and staff needs;
• Documenting house history, culture, and artwork;
• Providing input on the renovation designs in student and residential spaces; and
• Ensuring effective communication with the EC community.

The anticipated timeline for project engagement, which is subject to change based on the final construction timeline, is still under development

The Division of Student Life (DSL) has worked with East Campus leadership to assemble the Transition Team, which includes house team members, student residents from the house, and DSL staff.  Below, please find a list of current ECTT members:

Students

• Anhad Sawhney
• Daniel Figgis Gonzalez
• Ether Bazhenov
• Raleigh Berman
• Faith Kelley
• Rachel Dzwonkowski
• Juan Alvarez
• Tyra Espedal
• Maggie Lin
• Arthur Hu
• Ash Maki
• Martin Chan
• Hannah Kim
• Jordan Tierney
• Santi Cantu
• Sierra Green
• Shruti Garg
• Katilyn Przydzial
• Lisa Kondrich
• Phoenix Swartz
• Theo Black
• Wren Berlanga
• Arthur Zangi
• Zawad Chowdhury
• Hanu Snyder

House Team

• Sandy Alexandre, Head of House
• Eden and Cristian Medina, Associate Heads of House
• Kat Howell, Interim Area Director
• Joe Graham, House Operations Manager

Division of Student Life

• David Friedrich, Sr. Associate Dean for Housing & Residential Services
• Judy Robinson, Sr. Associate Dean for Residential Education & Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives
• David Randall, Sr. Associate Dean for Student Support and Well-being
• Richard Hilton, Associate Dean & Director for Residential Services and Operations
• Dennis Collins, Director of Capital Renewal and Renovations
• Tasha Coppett, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Residential Life
• Lauryn McNair, Assistant Dean for LBGTQ+ Services, Womxn, and Gender
• Mary Liñan, Manager of Special Initiatives for Housing & Residential Services

Guiding Principles 

• 2016 Architectural Principles for MIT Undergraduate Residences
• 2018 Undergraduate Housing Working Group Principles
  • Develop effective communications strategies.
  • Preserve student choice and agency for alternative living arrangements to the extent possible.
  • Provide small groups to move together and link to another friend-group in adjacent hall.
  • Prioritize students from buildings undergoing renewal during switch processes.
  • Help community by providing support, programs to keep the community together, and GRA liaisons.
  • Prioritize students returning to house after renewal (including students who lived in house through the last term when it was open and moved off campus).

Charter 

To view a copy of the East Campus Transition Team (ECTT) Charter, please click on the link below. 

View ECTT Charter

Have a question for the East Campus Transition Team, or an inquiry about the anticipated renewal project?  Please click the link below to send us your question! 

Submit Your Question