U.S. General Services Administration
Volpe Center
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) currently operates the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center at 55 Broadway on approximately 14 acres of land in the heart of the Kendall Square neighborhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts (the Property). The Property is improved by six (6) buildings with a total approximate area of 375,000 gross square feet; two (2) surface parking lots and open space; and features frontage along Binney Street to the north, Third Street to the east and Broadway to the south. A pedestrian walkway directly abuts the western boundary of the Property.
Following the conclusion of a two-phase solicitation process, GSA entered into an Exchange Agreement with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The Exchange Agreement requires MIT to design and construct a state-of-the-art-facility for DOT (the New Facility) on a portion of the property to be retained by the federal government. In exchange, the portion of the Property no longer needed by the federal government will be conveyed to MIT after construction of the New Facility.
2023 (Winter)
Scheduled project completion.
2020 (Spring)
2019
Receipt of 100% construction documents
2018
Beginning of construction for Enabling.
2017
January - GSA and MIT entered into the exchange agreement on January 18, 2017.
2016
June - Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on June 15, 2016
September - RFP responses due on September 8, 2016
November - On November 15, the government announced the initial selection of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as the Exchange Partner for the U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Exchange Project.
2015
May - In May 2015, GSA awarded a call under an existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for the completion of a Program of Requirements (POR). The POR will document functions and needs of a new facility for the Volpe Center and will be an integral part of any future solicitation. The Scope of Work contract was awarded in September 2015.
July - On July 16, 2015, GSA issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Exchange Transaction for Volpe Center.
2014
August - The government issued a Request for Information (RFI) to obtain responses from real estate developers, institutional landholders, construction entities, joint ventures, and other members of the development community that are potentially interested in acquiring portions of the property through an exchange process. The government used the information provided for planning purposes and to make strategic decisions regarding the future use of the property.
September - An Industry Day briefing and tour intended solely for potential respondents to the RFI was held on Saturday, September 20, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Property.
On Tuesday, September 19th, 2023, GSA hosted representatives from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), The Department of Transportation (DOT), Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy, and Federal Sustainability Officer Andrew Mayock for the long awaited ribbon cutting ceremony in Cambridge, MA. The new $750-million facility provides DOT employees a cutting-edge work and research environment focused on “transforming transportation for all” across the various modes of transit.
GSA Blog
GSA helps reimagine the 'most innovative square mile on the planet'
Building Photo
Street Map Around DOT Volpe Center