The Ragon Institute 2.0
Project
McDonald Electrical Corporation provided full network cabling infrastructure for The Ragon Institute 2.0, a 323,000 sq ft, five-level infectious disease research facility located in the heart of Cambridge. Developed by the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, and led by Consigli Construction with design by Payette and engineering by Arup USA, Inc., the facility includes state-of-the-art laboratories, a vivarium, classrooms, conference rooms, and an auditorium. McDonald Electricals’ scope included:
- Fiber Optic Backbone Installation: A fully redundant fiber optic backbone distributed to 23 telecom rooms, supporting over 1,200 connections.
- Horizontal Cabling: Installation of Cat6A copper cabling from telecom rooms to workstations and lab spaces throughout the facility.
- Comprehensive Network Infrastructure: End-to-end local area network cabling system designed to support the Institute’s advanced research and collaboration needs.
Special Challanges
The project’s aggressive schedule required simultaneous construction across multiple floors, demanding precise coordination with other trades. McDonald Electricals’ team of 25 technicians worked closely with all stakeholders to ensure timely delivery without compromising quality or safety.
