MIT Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

MIT's Building 20: The Magical Incubator Story, Anecdote, or Reminiscence

The Indoor Route Across Campus

Dave Carey
davec@FNAL.GOV

It was not well known that one could cross most of the campus without going outside by starting in Building 20. I never knew anyone else who did. On a cold or rainy night, after coming from the subway or Kendall Square, and going to west campus, I was grateful for this passageway.

One could start by going in the Vassar Street entrance past the guard. From there one of the wings of Building 20 connected to the north end of Building 26. The first floor of Building 26 was open to the outside. Once one went out, one couldn't get back in if the doors were locked after hours.

To avoid this difficulty, I went down to the basement as soon as I got into Building 26. In the basement I could pass under the open area and come up the stairway in Building 16. From there it was half a flight to the beginning of the great hall, at the other end of which were building 7 and the Mass Ave entrance. Then it was but a short walk (or run if it was raining) to Burton House, which is where I lived.