The new building in the heart of Kendall Square will support the Institute’s research to harness the power of the human immune system to prevent and cure disease

The Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard celebrated the official opening of its new headquarters in Cambridge with two ribbon-cutting ceremonies this past week.

The ribbon-cutting event on Monday, June 17, was attended by the institute’s benefactors Phillip T. (Terry) and Susan Ragon as well as special guest Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, alongside the heads of the Ragon Institute’s three members institutions: Alan Garber, Interim President of Harvard, Anne Klibanski, President and CEO of Mass General Brigham, and Sally Kornbluth, President of MIT.

In her remarks, Gov. Healey noted the global impact the Ragon’s research will inspire in this new building, the importance of the Institute’s research to the state of Massachusetts, as well as the significance of its location at the heart of Kendall Square between the three partner institutions.

Also in attendance were Jonathan Kraft, Chair of Mass General Brigham’s Board of Trustees, Robert Kraft, and other supporters including Marcela del Carmen, MD, MPH, President of Massachusetts General Hospital. 

“Today’s celebration marks a historic milestone in the history of the Ragon Institute and we are humbled by and grateful for the support and vision of Terry and Susan Ragon,” said Bruce D. Walker, MD, the Institute’s Director. “Most importantly, we are excited by the work that will take place here and the global impact it will have on those who suffer from disease.”

The employee ribbon-cutting event — held Friday, June 14 — provided the 500 members of the Ragon community, ranging from faculty to researchers to administrative staff, the invaluable experience of getting a first look at their new home. 

Dr. Bruce Walker, and Ragon Institute Scientific Director Facundo Batista, PhD, gave remarks together with facilities director Charlie Viveiros, who oversaw the construction process for the new location for the Institute.

The new 323,000 square-foot space, located in the heart of Kendall Square at 600 Main St., includes lab and work space and is Leed Gold certified by the US Green Building Council. Designed with sustainability in mind, the new Ragon Institute features outdoor spaces with an array of vegetation, blue roof systems that retain and control water, a green roof, as well as other energy efficient materials and designs.

In addition to being a hub for medical innovation, the Ragon Institute will also serve as a community gathering place for area residents and will host community education programs designed to engage underrepresented high school and undergraduate students in medical science and research.

“This iconic building will inspire groundbreaking research, empower education, and train the next generation of scientists,” Batista said in his remarks to conclude the momentous occasion. “It will undoubtedly shape the future of medical research.”