SUTD and MIT jointly opened the new IDC facility located at MIT on 8 February 2012. Similarly, the IDC facility located at SUTD is slated for completion by end-2012. There will be a state-of-the-art remote collaboration system between the two facilities and each IDC facility will have some of the best commercially available equipment as well as systems designed by its own faculty members.
The physical layout for the MIT IDC facility was designed to create a hybrid of an engineering laboratory, fabrication facility, and architectural studio space. It is located above the MIT Museum and next to the Edgerton Centre, a proximity that will enrich its vitality. The MIT Museum will help display the results of IDC research and design, while the Edgerton Centre will link with IDC’s efforts on mobility. Designed by Gensler, a global architecture firm, the 1,268-square metre facility is designed to be highly flexible to suit the diverse set of activities it will house.
For example, one space has garage-style doors that close to contain noise and dust that will sometimes be generated during prototype fabrication. At other times it opens to make a larger facility to enable teaching of large classes. It plans to build a fabrication or testing facility to support student design projects. Equipment that will be installed include, 3D printing, fused deposition modeling, and laser-cutting machines.
