The rejuvenated brick industrial building at 12 Emily Street (NW98) provides a cohesive home for the MIT Sea Grant College Program, relocating from a more fragmented space in Kendall Square, and also houses Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), a revolutionary fabric maker. The renovation encompassed every part of the interior and exterior of the 32,000 square-foot space and included structural and other repairs, the addition of bike parking, and upgrades to the landscaping of adjacent residences.

MIT Sea Grant undertakes research and educational projects to help provide real-world solutions to coastal issues and concerns. Notable spin-off Bluefin Robotics (now part of General Dynamics Mission Systems) began at Sea Grant’s Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Lab. The consolidation and redesign of interior space has enabled the Sea Grant program to gain new features it needs within the same square footage, including two large water tanks, an AUV workshop and other new labs, a large classroom, offices, and a conference room, all organized in a single-floor layout with improved access.

NW98’s other tenant, AFFOA, is engaged in the manufacturing of a new breed of fabrics — fabrics with the ability to communicate, store and convert energy, adjust size, and more. AFFOA’s space includes a clean room, interior glass walls that make prototyping visible to visitors, and a double-height space for “draw towers” that help fabricate fibers from glass.

The exterior improvements to NW98 include all new windows, repointed brickwork, lintel and foundation repairs, and new accessible entrances. Inside and out, the building retains an industrial aspect that harkens back to its roots and references the New England textile industry that lay the foundation for AFFOA’s work.