MIT’s Futuristic New Entrance Canopy!

How do you create a new entrance for the world-famous MIT? I did the structural design of this stunning project and, in this video, I’ll go through the concept design, how it was built with carbon and glass fiber, optimized with AI/machine learning, and fabricated by boat builders!
Here’s our technical paper published in Structure magazine: www.structuremag.org/?p=26609
Also many thanks to SOSO for using a clip from their beautiful video. Full video at their link below.
Project Credits
Structural Engineer: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc
SGH Project Team: Paul Kassabian, Rebecca Lubrano, Christian Sjoberg, Paul Rosenstrauch, and Jordan Weinstein
Owner: MITIMCo
Design Architect: NADAAA: www.nadaaa.com/portfolio/kend...
Architect of Record: Perkins & Will
Above Grade Structural Engineer: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Below Grade Structural Engineer: McNamara Salvia
Lighting Designer: SOSO Limited: www.sosolimited.com/work/mbta...
Mechanical Engineer: AHA
General Contractor: Turner Construction
Canopy Manufacturer: Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding: / @lymanmorse
FRP Engineer: Horsmon & Associates
About Me:
Hi, I'm Paul Kassabian. I'm a structural engineer and a Principal at SGH in Boston, MA. Being a structural engineer is my fulltime job and I’ve also I taught full courses to graduate students at MIT for nine years, Harvard's Graduate School of Design (GSD) for five years and at RISD (Fall 2023). These are videos based on my structural design projects and years of teaching structures to students.
Some legal/professional stuff:
As of this video, I’m a:
• Licensed Structural/Civil Engineer in 26 US States including my home state of Massachusetts.
• Professional Engineer in British Columbia
• Chartered Structural Engineer in the UK (both ICE and IStructE)
So my full designations are: Paul E. Kassabian, P.E., P.Eng (BC), C.Eng MICE MIStructE
MUSIC:
I purchased a license for use from Pond5.com
The item ID number is 32695415.
AdKey:p2A94LX-QZ4MW3
Publisher: Kero Herning - IPI/CAE: 825536431
Composer: Kero Herning - IPI/CAE: 825536431
Title: Happy Positive Playful
License : Individual License for Commercial Use.

[@mikebikekite1]

I don't know much about architecture but I know what I like. Unfortunately this comes across as a bit dull which is surprising considering the amount of thought you've obviously put into it. Maybe it looks more interesting in person.

[@sebastianpolanco11]

honestly. the result is very underwhelming for the amount of work you did. To me is just a piece of carbon held by straight poles, you lost a opportunity to build a truly unique structure with the concrete optimized thingy, that you actually lost yourself in building something truly inspiring to look at.

[@DMHN84]

You’re watching the wrong video, obviously.

[@Marcus-Lim]

I agree, I think if the columns were more dynamic, it might look less temporary.

[@Ari-polo]

I actually love the structure, achieving simplicity is much harder than you think.

[@marymccluer1630]

Thanks for going through the backstory of how you thought through this process. It is interesting how you considered a number of different material options. Aluminum foam is an interesting, fairly new material.

[@philippegenereux4422]

What a great video and summary of all those design meetings trying to figure how to make this canopy light and slender. Well done team!

[@dt-qh2cj]

Great post- thank you

[@NicholasSibille]

Extraordinary!

[@AaronBrand]

I think composites (frp) are underutilized in the many potential uses that they have. This is an awesome example of one way to incorporate them into designs for every day use. I’m just starting to look at your videos (trusses) and I’m excited to learn more about designing with composites. What kind of surface finish was used on the structure, I wonder.

[@carlgroch4579]

Way Cool!!!!

[@marcosjavierontiverosherna7423]

Congratulations professor, these types of projects push the boundaries of engineering and architecture and inspire us to be better.

[@ccederlo]

Neat engineering for the structure! Congrats Perhaps a more thorough explanation of the benefits for all the optimization would be a great follow up video. For example, it looks like you were able to use some decently narrow while quite long poles to hold up such a large structure that high in the air. Perhaps discussing more about the practical design challenges as well such as weather, wind, etc will help us understand more and better appreciate the design.

[@The_Professor123]

super cool! and to combine all these methods like fea and machine learning

[@MarkEichin]

"How did this fit in architecturally with the pillars and stairs?" Oh wait, it's over the MIT *subway stop* and is mostly the gateway to a bunch of adminstrative offices. (And you *know* that.)

[@somc4542]

What is the overall cost of these 2 canopies?

[@thunkoUTube]

Makes sense to economize the AI with limitations. What if you were to downscale the FRP to a translucent thickness, flip the compound curve hull shape to face downward and luminously back light it from within? Then you could sustainably power the whole thing with a solar fabric on the topside.

[@user-rf8wr8nu7i]

Hi Paul, i don't mean this as a personal critique, but isn't this a bit of overengineering? This - i am sure very expensive - canopy sits on a lot of stilts that will hinder you on passing freely between the structures, while it does not actually give you a lot of protection against the weather. Does it serve a purpose other than a "gesture"?

[@krisp4889]

As a boatbuilder I would have loved to have seen a more curved free flowing top__ you did a show with kids on them__ composites yep they are awesome and remarkably easy to use__ I also love the wet concrete impregnated fabric tops__ formed upside down. FYI most boat builders hate straight lines sorry.

[@eddiebernays514]

a basic boat wouldve looked nicer lol

[@karoma7898]

you built a sheet stamped can opener... pretty useful, interesting to design, (in this case it isn't) simple to produce .... but it's not interesting to look at... as an engineer, that's enough praise for me

[@user-ct5it9ex3m]

I don't get it. It's an odd shape, set on high columns. If it is designed to protect pedestrians from rain and snow, it doesn't seem to cover much area. And because rain (and snow) are driven by the wind and come down at varying angles, the protected area on the ground must be constantly moving around. Why not a larger canopy, simpler in plan, and closer to the ground?

[@A0A4ful]

Aptly put. It's more an abstract idea, to insert a shade or shelter, up in the arcs of the sky. May not have a utilitarian value, in the cold, windy, rainy conditions...the columns may act as a general path maker.

[@user-yk1cw8im4h]

Damn that’s cool

[@ronlokk]

Very nice indeed. Maybe just watching a few more Star Wars movies could have saved all that AI computer time. I did love your bridge in London, Bravo on that. All the best.

[@reconeix]

It's quite cool in a subtle way. However, I agree with other commenters, for the amount of thought put in to the project -- it's underwhelming considering its location.

[@edgarprotsko1558]

Sir i have an ultimate question. On 6:36 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXvHepV5o5mBq6c you show very good tension variation braces. But what type of braces we need if we want place kettlebell ( load) not only in the center but on top of every vertical compressed stands and it will be 3d truss and the edges of the 3D truss (beam) will be rigidly fixed too??...What the best solution for such complicated situation

[@muhfuggus]

My dear father’s RV has a similar construction used as awning. I’m glad you were able to throw in the buzzwords of AI as one who works in that space; the concept is in its infancy at the moment. Also, MIT is just another tech college, no better than others just because it is located in haughty Boston.

[@olson.pamela]

You could have made a documentary on this.

[@carytodd3368]

Promo-SM

[@nascentnaga]

I see python!

[@chippysteve4524]

It may well be very clever technically but she's not a looker ;-)

[@eddiebernays514]

i hate modern architecture. its so goddamn boring. the first design you did was much nicer than this.

[@Dan-yz3vd]

All that faff for some metal Doritos? Perfectly encapsulates the problems with Architects in 2024. High off their farts and pompous.

[@Andrew-rc3vh]

If you are going to use AI to design the structure, you could and might as well use AI to do the lights. To train the AI the system, you could have a like button and a dislike button. You know how that works.

[@prasenjeetrathore]

Honestly, it is quite ugly and boring. Modern architecture is very depressing. Could have build upon traditional architecture to make something beautiful.