The venue for SGP 2024 is the Stata Center, home of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). The Stata Center is designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, whose other famous structures include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, France. The 720,000-square-foot design is a whimsical mesh of modern and quirky, with shiny tilting towers and angled walls, an ideal space for a conference whose focuses include architectural geometry. Stata includes a 350-seat auditorium 32-123 that will host the main conference 24-26 June, 9am-5pm. The graduate school will be held in auditorium 32-141, 22-23 June, 9am-5pm.
Venue Address: 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Getting Here
The closest airport to the venue is Boston Logan International Airport. To get from Boston Logan Airport to the Stata Center at MIT, you have several options, including public transportation, driving, and rideshare. Here's a summary of your main options:
Public Transportation (MBTA): Take the Silver Line Bus (SL1) from Logan Airport to South Station. At South Station, transfer to the Red Line subway towards Alewife. Get off at Kendall/MIT Station. The Stata Center is a short walk (~5mins) from Kendall/MIT Station.
Taxi or Rideshare (Uber, Lyft, etc.): Taxis and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are available at Logan Airport. Directly request a ride to the Stata Center at MIT. The trip takes about 15-25 minutes, depending on traffic. For ridesharing apps the cost is typically between $15 and $30.
Driving: The onsite public parking is usually restricted to under two hours daily. We suggest opting for one of the nearby public parking garages.
Social Events
Join us for two exclusive social events during SGP 2024! All attendees are cordially invited to an enchanting evening at the MIT Museum and a memorable night at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum.
MIT Museum, 24 June, evening: The cocktail hour on the first conference evening will be held on the second floor of the newly-renovated MIT Museum, located next to the Kendall Square T stop, approximately 5 minutes walk from the conference venue. The MIT Museum has agreed to open several of its exhibits for SGP attendees to peruse during the event.
Address: Gambrill Center, 314 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02142
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, 25 June, evening: The second evening of SGP will feature our social event at the iconic Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. We invite you to enjoy dinner, drinks, and the chance to network in this historic setting. For transportation, please take the Red Line from Kendall Square/MIT station towards Braintree or Ashmont. Get off the Red Line at South Station and the venue is a short walk away.
Address: 306 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
Accommodation
Upon completing your conference registration, you'll be provided with a code to access details regarding discounted rates and booking procedures for a list of hotels in close proximity to the event. Use the provided code to unlock the information here: hotel booking instructions. Hotels with negotiated rates include:
Local Info
Here are some suggestions collected by MIT grad students (thank you to Ryan Mei) on fun things to do in the neighborhood.
History
The Freedom Trail
A must do for Boston! A walking tour through downtown Boston that passes through famous sites of the American Revolution. Grab a Cannoli from Mike’s Pastry after visiting the Paul Revere House. Starts in the Boston Commons. Ends near the USS Constitution Museum.
Museums
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
A quirky mansion with a massive garden showcasing the extensive art collection of a reclusive widow. Showcases paintings and sculpture from notable artists, a letter collection from famous figures throughout history, and a cast of the composer Liszt’s massive hands. Nothing is labeled; guests are expected to talk and learn from the docents in the museum to learn about the pieces.
MIT Museum
Museum with a variety of exhibits on technology, history, and art. Free with an MIT student.
Harvard Museum of Natural History
Known for its beautiful collection of glass flowers and preserved plant and animal specimens.
Harvard Art Museum Well curated collection, free to the public.
Museum of Fine Arts Massive collection of art and sculpture from notable artists and historical artifacts. Right next to the Gardner Museum. Impressionist, American, and modern art collections are quite fun. Usually has really interesting special exhibits.
Boston Children's Museum Wonderful collection and entertainment for kids of all age.
Food and Drinks
Newbury Street Pretty street along Back Bay lined with shops and restaurants in brownstones.
Central Square Near MIT with plenty of restaurants, shops, markets, and bars.
Taza Chocolate Factory Tour A chocolate company that makes specialty stone ground chocolates. Tour includes a tasting. Buy tickets through MITAC for a discounted price.
The Muddy Charles and The Thirsty Ear MIT student-run pubs with $3 beers and river views (Muddy). Often have trivia, board games, and karaoke.
Union Square Donuts The best donuts Ryan has ever had.
Restaurants: Roxy’s, Saloniki, LA Burdick, Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine, Veggie Galaxy, Flour, Brookline Lunch, Cava, Lander, Life Alive, Pepper Sky’s Thai, Hokkaido Ramen, Beard Papa (cream puffs), Beantown Taqueria
Bars: Lamplighter, Lord Hobo, Remnant Brewing
Jogs and Nature
The Esplanade (beautiful riverside park along Back Bay, a must-do jog, right across from MIT).
Middlesex Fells (nature preserve north of Cambridge).