Red Box of Industry Architecture
Industrial

by

Brian Rojo

Red Box of Industry Architecture
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Red Box of Industry Architecture
This relatively new industrial facility near MIT in Cambridge, MA is known as the William R. Dickson Cogeneration Plant. It represents an architecture in the design of a power plant. The whiteness symbolizes a "clean industry" approach based on cogeneration energy technology. The striking tower-like smoke stack and rotunda-like structure on the roof provides a way to describe the facility with simple architectural language. In contrast, the image displays a degree of complexity inherent in an industrial facility. Most curious is the "red box" that stands out despite being just a tiny object. It evokes a sense of mystery for its purpose. It obviously is very important, and maybe some form a alarm switch or shutoff. Additionally, the bold and contemporary design makes for a stark contrast in the old urban-industrial neighborhood of East Cambridge.