Ever wonder where the Whitaker Building got its name? It is also known as MIT Building 56. Let’s discover a bit about this place.
The 56 Whitaker Building is located at 21 Ames Street in Cambridge. That is Cambridge, MA 02139. You can find it just south of the Stata Center. It sits on Vassar and Main Streets. Building 56 is also just west of Building 66 on Ames Street.
If you’re coming from the East Garage Lot you are in luck. You can enter either building through the four-story glass connector between them. From Ames Street you can enter Building 66. Then you can walk through to 56. Vassar Street is one block west of Ames Street. It is near Building NE-25. That building contains Legal Seafood along Main Street in Kendall Square.
Now you might be asking yourself: Who is Whitaker? Well, Craig A. Whitaker is one half of Mills Whitaker Architects. He began his collaboration with Donald W. Mills in 1982. They were graduate students in architecture at MIT. In 1997, after years of diverse design and construction experience with frequent joint ventures, they formed Mills Whitaker Architects.
Mills Whitaker Architects is a small hands-on firm. They have a staff of five professionals. Three of them are registered architects.
The firm often works on phased repairs. They handle restorations and alterations to existing properties. Their projects frequently begin with an assessment of a building’s historical development. They conduct an analysis of existing conditions. Once they understand the facility, they develop prioritized budgets. They create design options and detailed plans for phased renovations. They also are involved in new construction of institutional and residential facilities.
Members of the firm are licensed as architects in Maine. They are also licensed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. One is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council. This person is a LEED-Accredited Professional.
The firm’s approach includes the consistent direct involvement of its principal architects. They are involved in every aspect of their services. They encourage prospective clients to review their work. They also want them to contact their references.
Mills Whitaker Architects also worked on the Old City Hall in Boston. The Old City Hall was built in 1865. It was the city’s centerpiece of municipal government. It was also a symbol of architectural excellence for many decades. The facility now houses the Architectural Heritage Foundation. They are stewards of this historical treasure. They hold a 99-year lease from the city. Numerous offices and a restaurant currently occupy the building.
Mills Whitaker Architects provided an assessment for Old City Hall. They handled budgeting and planning for the exterior restoration. This included its windows roofing and central decorative dome. So the next time you are in the 56 Whitaker Building think about the firm behind it.