A New Vision for the Student Center

THE NEXUS OF STUDENT LIFE. Since the Stratton Student Center became a central part of MIT’s campus in 1968, our community has grown and student life has changed significantly. More than 50 years after its opening, the Student Center welcomes thousands of community members and visitors daily and hosts nearly 7,000 events annually with 200,000 participants.

The needs and expectations of MIT students evolved over the decades, but the Student Center remained largely static – a combination of 1960’s efficiency and 1980’s charm. Today, MIT is fulfilling a vision of the Student Center as a campus hub for well-being, performing arts and dance, healthy eating, and community building, with enhancements that encourage students to slow down, care for their minds and bodies, and connect with others. The plans include an innovative Wellbeing Lab and targeted enhancements across four floors and outside, encompassing a network of flexible student spaces, community areas, infrastructure updates, and much more.

INTEGRATING WELL-BEING & RENEWAL GOALS. Much of the building reopened on September 12, 2023, to rave reviews from community members. Continuing work will improve design coherence throughout the building, update infrastructure, create more adaptable spaces, and transform this dated facility fully into a modern, student-oriented nexus of activity. When the work is complete in the spring of 2024, we expect the Student Center to be a welcoming, aesthetically coherent haven of warmth that reflects and supports MIT’s culture of well-being.