Loners no longer wanted. Nerds take notice. Bookworms be on alert. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is on a $1-billion building campaign to soften its edges--from streetscape to study cove. And it's doing so by building audacious architecture that stands out, fits in and nurtures community, socialization and even amusement. The goal is to show that good living is good for learning.
Standards of flexibility, compatibility, economy and accessibility are still in force, but MIT's design principles now mandate comfort, communication, connectivity and a sense of place. A new dormitory has nooks and crannies to draw students out of their rooms for communal lounging, snacking and studying. A computer science building is designed with internal neighborhoods, villages and pedestrian streets to foster human interaction. A fitness center is meant to encourage letting go.