Building 20

Building 20, located at 18 Vassar Street on the MIT campus, was a temporary wooden structure erected during World War II that served as a hub for groundbreaking research, particularly in microwave physics at the Radiation Laboratory. Despite its temporary designation, it operated for 55 years, becoming a unique incubator for various MIT programs and student activities. The building's unconventional design featured multiple wings and a hodgepodge of materials, reflecting the creative and often chaotic spirit of its occupants. Notably, it housed a significant portion of the nation's physicists, including nine Nobel Prize winners, making it a symbol of scientific achievement during the war. Demolished in 1998, Building 20 remains a fascinating chapter in MIT's history, illustrating the intersection of innovation, urgency, and the evolution of academic spaces.