On July 1st, 2003, the MIT Laboratory for Computer Science (LCS) and the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (AI Lab) merged to form the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL).

You would not believe how hard it was to come up with that name.

You can read about the merger at MIT News, and the group's website is at www.csail.mit.edu. The director and co-director of the new lab are Rod Brooks and Victor Zue. The merger is partly prompted by the two groups moving into a more integrated shared space in the Stata center (an article, a definition, official website, media coverage). The move happened in March 2004.

• Building 20, the former building on the current Stata center site has an interesting history.

• Original models for the building, including a giant crystal ball.

• Timelapse project for Stata center, recording images of its construction.