The main atrium in the center is pierced by two glass elevators and a red staircase. As I descended to the first floor, I noticed that the stairs were carefully calibrated to be just too far apart to walk down normally, so I was forced to somehow half-run and half-glide down the steps, in a rather promenade-like and (hopefully) dignified fashion. Photo 3 of 12 in New MIT Media Lab Opens Doors by Tiffany Chu

New MIT Media Lab Opens Doors

3 of 12

The main atrium in the center is pierced by two glass elevators and a red staircase. As I descended to the first floor, I noticed that the stairs were carefully calibrated to be just too far apart to walk down normally, so I was forced to somehow half-run and half-glide down the steps, in a rather promenade-like and (hopefully) dignified fashion.