Introducing the New U.S. DOT Volpe Center Facility “Worthy of its Mission, of its Brilliant Staff, and of its Strategic Location” 

The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Volpe Center celebrated the official opening of its new state-of-the-art facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 19, 2023, attended by U.S. DOT leadership, state and local leaders, as well as partners from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  

“Our workforce has witnessed and contributed to the transformation of our Kendall Square neighborhood for the past 50 years. And now, we open our doors in a globally recognized hub where research, technology, innovation, and ingenuity converge, ideas flourish, and big things get done.”  

U.S. DOT Volpe Center Director Anne Aylward 

Watch the full ribbon cutting ceremony here.  

The new U.S. DOT Volpe Center is now located at 220 Binney Street in Cambridge, MA—in the heart of Kendall Square, often called “the most innovative square mile on the planet.” The U.S. DOT Volpe Center has been an active part of the Kendall Square community since 1970. This premier location firmly positions U.S. DOT in the epicenter of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurial startups. The vibrancy, diversity, and energy of this location infuses our culture, helps inform our work, and optimally supports current and future transportation needs of the country.   

“There isn’t a single success we’ve had in the last 52 years that hasn’t had Volpe’s fingerprints on it. And, after long last, Volpe has a headquarters worthy of its critical mission, of its brilliant staff, and of its strategic location.”  

U.S. DOT Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy Carlos Monje 

The ceremony marked a decade-long journey that began when GSA and U.S. DOT entered a property exchange partnership, with conversations beginning in 2012. Then in 2017, GSA and U.S. DOT partnered with MIT to revitalize the existing, 14-acre U.S. DOT Volpe Center site in the heart of Kendall Square to a 4-acre single building facility, expected to meet LEED Platinum standards. A groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the project in 2019.  

“It’s a partnership that has brought and will continue to bring tremendous benefits to our state. It’s providing federal employees with a great place to work in the heart of global innovation…unlocking new investment…right here in Kendall Square that’s doubling down on the qualities that make this area, this region so great.”  

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey 

U.S. DOT Volpe Center Director Anne Aylward opened the ribbon cutting ceremony by welcoming guests and thanking speakers, who included the following: 

• Andrew Mayock, White House Council on Environmental Quality Federal Chief Sustainability Officer  
• Maura Healey, Massachusetts Governor  
• Sally Kornbluth, MIT President  
• Robin Carnahan, U.S. GSA Administrator 
• Carlos Monje, U.S. DOT Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy 

“Where Ideas Flourish and Big Things Get Done” 

The new facility will enable the U.S. DOT Volpe Center to continue its innovative work of addressing the nation’s most complex transportation challenges, which center on U.S. DOT’s priorities of safety, equity, climate and sustainability, transformation, and infrastructure modernization. The new facility will be home to more than 600 U.S. DOT Volpe Center staff, in addition to contractors, U.S. DOT Region 1 headquarters for FHWA, FMCSA, FRA, FTA, and NHTSA, as well as regional offices for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Army North.  

“Our workforce has witnessed and contributed to the transformation of our Kendall Square neighborhood for the past 50 years,” said U.S. DOT Volpe Center Director Anne Aylward. “And now, we open our doors in a globally recognized hub where research, technology, innovation, and ingenuity converge, ideas flourish, and big things get done.”  

“As the U.S. government’s chief sustainability officer, it’s an honor to represent the White House and share how today’s celebration is a clear part of President Biden’s vision,” noted Andrew Mayock, White House Council on Environmental Quality. “So I am here today to raise up your collective leadership that proves again we can accomplish big, bold things. And so I want to congratulate you on this leadership, and I want to loudly and clearly thank all those who made this big, bold project vision a reality,” continued Mayock. “All of you have shown clearly and dramatically that yes we can, yes we will, and yes we are doing big, bold things right now. And with examples like this, our clean energy future is clearly in reach.”  

The remaining 10 acres of the Volpe parcel will provide a historic opportunity for MIT to create a dynamic multiuse center that will connect Kendall Square with new open space, a community center, pedestrian links, affordable housing, independent and small retail opportunities, and science and innovation space. The new facility is the result of a first-of-its-kind property exchange partnership between GSA, U.S. DOT, and MIT aimed at revitalizing the Volpe Center site in the Kendall Square neighborhood of Cambridge. 

“All of you have shown clearly and dramatically that yes we can, yes we will, and yes we are doing big, bold things right now. And with examples like this, our clean energy future is clearly in reach.”  

White House Council on Environmental Quality Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Mayock 

“Thank you and congratulations to everyone who helped to make this amazing facility possible,” remarked Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. “It’s a testament to the transformational agreement between MIT and the federal government. It’s a partnership that has brought and will continue to bring tremendous benefits to our state. It’s providing federal employees with a great place to work in the heart of global innovation. It’s sustaining jobs that support families and boost our state’s economy, and it’s unlocking new investment by MIT right here in Kendall Square that’s doubling down on the qualities that make this area, this region so great.” 

“Together, we are in the midst of doing something quite incredible at this site, a unique collaboration that benefits everyone involved,” remarked MIT President Sally Kornbluth. “This acreage opened by this unique arrangement will be an appealing new hub of activity, a place for discovery and innovation, for grabbing a sandwich, for walking the dog, for making friends, for raising kids, and for meeting your next collaborator. Enhancing Kendall Square as a place will have countless benefits in many directions. I hope and believe that it will greatly benefit our Cambridge neighbors.”  

“A Headquarters Worthy of its Mission” 

Key features of the new U.S. DOT Volpe Center facility located at 220 Binney Street include more than 400,000 usable square feet of space, multipurpose labs, and modern conference and meeting rooms that will accommodate up to 800 people. The new facility will provide transportation experts with the technology and equipment to continue fulfilling the U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s mission to advance transportation innovation for the public good. 

U.S. GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan echoed Andrew Mayock’s earlier remarks on the efficiency of the new facility. “In this particular building...we are optimizing for energy efficiency from the get-go in the design. We’ve got triple pane glass windows that turn out to make a huge difference. Electric heat pumps, electric chillers, and rooftop solar panels, all of which are going to make a dramatic difference in reducing the carbon footprint and energy use of this building,” she continued. “So, bottom line is we are very, very proud to have been a part of this project. This is a legacy that is going to last for many, many generations. And, I just want to thank all of our team for what you’ve done to make this day come true.” 

“The new U.S. DOT John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center brings together world-class expertise in one building and allows for efficiencies and connections and scalability that will benefit the whole country,” noted U.S. DOT Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy Carlos Monje. “The new U.S. DOT Volpe Center facility includes laboratories, conference spaces, offices, open workstations…that will bring multimodal staff from all across U.S. DOT and the transportation enterprise together to encourage collaboration, exchange ideas, and develop solutions.”  

The U.S. DOT Volpe Center is a national and global leader in transportation research, analysis, technology, and innovation with cross-modal expertise in multiple fields. The U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s knowledge and capabilities are critical to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, the operating administrations, and other federal agencies. 

“We are very, very proud to have been a part of this project. This is a legacy that is going to last for many, many generations.” 

U.S. GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan 

“There isn’t a single success we’ve had in the last 52 years that hasn’t had Volpe’s fingerprints on it,” said Monje. “And, after long last, Volpe has a headquarters worthy of its critical mission, of its brilliant staff, and of its strategic location.” 

About the U.S. DOT Volpe Center 

Celebrating more than 50 years of federal service to the nation, the U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s mission is to transform transportation for all.  

We’re Hiring: Learn more about:

• our open job opportunities
• our commitment to equity, and
• what it’s like to work at the U.S. DOT Volpe Center.