MassArt Opens New Design and Media Center

Photo by Carly Metz

MassArt celebrated the official opening of their new Design and Media Center alongside several hundred guests last week with a flashy ribbon cutting ceremony.

In addition to now serving as the entrance to MassArt’s campus at 621 Huntington Avenue, the building serves as both a display area for completed works and a workshop for current production.  Student and alumni projects are showcased throughout the three story center, and there’s also access to project rooms, galleries, studios, product development labs, and shops for students to create their projects.

The $40.4 million dollar center was actually transformed from an under-utilized gym. “No longer hidden behind the walls of this triangular block, the college’s vision for a more welcoming, accessible, and sustainable campus sets an example for so many institutions,” said Susan T. Rodriguez, the project’s architect from New York-based firm Ennead, in remarks at the ribbon cutting. “We look forward—and it’s really starting to happen right now—to seeing the spirit and culture of MassArt take hold and bring the building to life.”

Students, alumni, community members, and key figures involved in the project were all in attendance at the opening celebration to tour the new building, check out an array of student works on display, and listen to key figures on the project who spoke to the crowd before the ribbon-cutting. Governor Charlie Baker, MassArt’s interim president and provost Ken Strickland, and Rodriguez were among the speakers.

All of them pointed to the wide array of ways the center would benefit the school. “It poses infinite possibilities for the students, faculty, and community at large,” said MassArt board of trustees chairman David Lee. “It will give the opportunity to create collaborative interdisciplinary work that showcases the innovative spirit that is really essential to MassArt.”

Tuesday’s opening marks the completion of a project 10 years in the making.

“I think this institution, with its 150 years under its belt—the best and most interesting, and yes maybe the wildest days of all, are ahead,” said Governor Baker. “And you should all be justly excited about that.”