Woodworking • Structural Construction • Lighting • 2025 REX
East Campus's annual REX build is one of MIT's most beloved traditions — students spend weeks constructing massive rides and structures from scratch to welcome incoming first-years (I don't think we normally help with build, but this was the type of thing I chose MIT for, so yes I was going to be there for every waking moment!!). Along with a small team of the initial designers, I spent 15+ hours a day for two weeks building a 3 story fort with LED displays, sound, and lighting, from scratch (well, $70k worth of uncut wood — thanks for the sponsorship RedBull), as well as a roller coaster (of which unfortunately was not completed due to permitting issues). The builds draw on a long lineage of ambitious EC projects dating back to the early 2000s, growing from carnival booths into fully engineer-approved roller coasters that have shaped the dorm's identity ever since. As I am not a party person, a special thanks goes to Evan, Hanu, and Zach for the close-up photos during the party, in addition to being phenomenal build designers! I was much happier manning the Tesla Coil during the party :)