The media laboratory, although it is a subdivision of the institute's School of Architecture, deals with a very wide range of issues - from robotics and elementary particles to the problems of modern culture, connecting the spheres of social sciences and technology.
Since its foundation in the 1980s, the key to the work of the laboratory has been the active interaction of researchers of different specialties with each other. If the “Wisner Building” built for her in 1985 by J. M. Pei was a standard building for a scientific institute, almost completely fenced off from the outside world, then Mackie chose a fundamentally different approach.
As is typical of this architect, he did not resort to bright and effective gestures, but turned to the problems of the future use of the building. Its interior hides 9 laboratories, the partitions between which are completely transparent. Each of these rooms is two-tier, and any floor of the building is the first level of one of the laboratories, and the second is the other. These rooms are arranged around an atrium, from where there is a view of all the researchers working in the building. Such a decision should make employees want to observe the work of their neighbors, perhaps ask them something or, on the contrary, give advice. The invisible diagonal connections that arise in this way between different departments are visually emphasized by the bright lines of the atrium stairs - almost the only opaque and non-white parts of the interior.
The Maca's characteristic glass façade and perforated metal panels that filter out 50% of the sunlight will allow the new building, connected to the Pei building, to glow from the inside at night and, in general, be much more open to the outside world: even if it allows pedestrians to peep inside through large windows.
Meeting rooms, an auditorium for 100 seats and a cafe are located on the top, sixth floor of the building; the rooftop terrace offers views of the river and Boston.
