COTE: Climate Connections | Integrated Commitment to Research and Sustainability—MIT.nano

MIT.nano is one of the largest commitments to research in MIT’s history. As a shared core facility, MIT.nano serves the entire MIT community of faculty, researchers, students, and neighboring institutions. The research within aims to address some of humanity’s greatest challenges, from sustainable energy to clean water to finding a cure for cancer. Located steps from the iconic Infinite Corridor and the Great Dome, it is home to a cluster of world-class laboratories, including class 100 and 1,000 cleanrooms, imaging suites, nano-makerspace, and chemistry teaching laboratories.

Achieving LEED Platinum certification required an integrated sustainability approach that included community engagement, focus on water conservation and storm water management, resiliency in anticipating flooding and program changes, wellness, and safety of all users, especially within the hazardous environment of a cleanroom. Due to the intensive energy use inherent in a cleanroom with up to 260 air changes/hour, a massive focus was placed on energy use reduction. By reusing an existing brownfield building site, MIT.nano revitalized a major precinct at the heart of the campus, transforming what was a service yard into an accessible and inspiring landscape including the integration of public art.