The Hayden Library at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is undergoing a transformative renovation. Originally built in 1951 as a post-World War II humanities collection library showcasing modernist architecture, it is now being reimagined as a vibrant, inclusive learning environment designed to foster collaborative and innovative research. The concept, titled Research Crossroads, highlights the potential for new ways of thinking at the convergence of digital, analytical, and analog collections.
The renovation introduces two distinct two-story pavilions—one crafted from glass and the other from wood—that serve as a mediating scale to the otherwise uniform volume of the original reading room. At the intersection of these pavilions, a new sculptural staircase and elevator disrupt the existing floor plan, providing vertical connectivity across all levels.
The ground floor, accessible throughout the day, features a café and versatile activity spaces alongside digital collaboration rooms, private study areas, and technology hubs housed within the glass and wooden pavilions. Elements such as translucent curtains, digital screens, movable furniture, and whiteboards encourage students to engage actively with the space, adapting it to their needs. The redesigned second floor leverages the original building’s strengths, offering a tranquil retreat with breathtaking views of the Charles River and the Boston skyline.
The original Lipschitz courtyard, long neglected due to its challenging access and exposure to wind and sun, has been revitalized as a lively central green space. This courtyard extends the library’s functional areas into a sheltered, intimate indoor-outdoor environment surrounded by natural vegetation, curved wooden benches, and thoughtfully placed sculptures.
A new three-season pavilion connects directly to the courtyard café, with an accessible corridor encircling the courtyard serving as a transitional space. Custom wooden panels combine acoustic control with the texture of the courtyard’s incense tree canopy, extending this natural motif to the pavilion ceiling.
Project Drawings
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Analysis Chart
Project Information
Architect: Kennedy& Violich Architecture
Project Year: 2021
Photographer: John Horner
Manufacturer: Terrazzo & Marble
Design Team: Sheila Kennedy FAIA (Design Principal), Frano Violich FAIA (Managing Principal), Ned Goodell AIA (Project Architect), Ben Widger AIA, Daniel Sebaldt AIA, Nick Johnson, Hannah Liechty, Danniely Staback Rodriguez, Kevin Marblestone, Toshiki Niimi, Lynced Torres, Greta Wong, Jess Jorge, Chris Weaver, Mark Bavoso, Daniel Marshall, Clarence Lee, Julian Geltman
Client: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Architectural Design: Kennedy& Violich Architecture
Landscape Architect: Stephen Stimson Associates
Structural Engineer: Buro Happold
Construction Engineer: Simpson Gumpertz& Heger
Sustainable Design: Song Tengtian Mashadi
Acoustic Design: Cavanaugh Tocci Associates
Audiovisual Design: Communications Design Associates
Cost Estimation: Vermeulens
Civil Engineer: Haley& Aldrich
Contractor: Elaine Construction Company
Location: Cambridge, United States
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