Venue Overview
FDG 2024 will be held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA from May 21 - 24, 2024. Conference events will be held on campus in Olin Hall (plenary session) and the Innovation Studio (workshops, main conference tracks, and conference reception). Specific room locations are on the conference schedule.
The FDG24 registration table is located on Innovation Studio 2nd floor, and will be staffed 8am-6pm (8:00-18:00) the 21st through the 23rd.
Click the image below to view our detailed map.
The full campus directory may be viewed here.
Getting to Worcester
By Air
Worcester Regional Airport. Worcester has a regional airport, with daily nonstop service to/from New York - JFK (American Airlines), New York - LaGuardia (Delta Airlines), Fort Lauderdale (JetBlue), and Orlando (JetBlue). Worcester’s airport is a quick 10 minute drive from WPI’s campus.
Boston Logan International Airport. Boston is one hour from Worcester, and has a major international airport serving all destinations. Expect an individual shared ride from the airport to WPI to cost approximately $80. There are also many reservable shared ride services available, which must be reserved in advance, including Knight's Airport Limousine.
By Train
Worcester Union Station is served by both Amtrak and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) Commuter Rail.
By Car
Worcester is easy driving distance from Boston (approx. 1 hour), New York (approx. 3 hours), and Western Massachusetts (approx. 1.5 hours).
Address for GPS users:
100 Institute Road, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609
Visitor parking will be available at Park Ave Garage. Ask the front desk for a printed copy if needed. There is also ample street parking near campus. Attendees with handicap plates or placards may park in any handicap space on campus.
Accommodations
The two closest hotels to WPI’s campus are Courtyard by Marriott and Hampton Inn & Suites. These are both walking distance from the venue (approx. 10-15 minutes), and both offer WPI discount rates if you call to make your reservation.
| Courtyard by Marriott | Hampton Inn & Suites |
|---|---|
|
72 Grove Street Phone: (508) 363-0300 Fax: (508) 363-3563 |
65 Prescott Street Phone: (508) 886-9005 Fax: (508) 886-9099 |
Other local hotels we recommend include:
- AC Hotels, 125 Front Street, Worcester, MA 01608
- Residence Inn Marriott, 503 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605
- Hilton Garden Inn, 35 Major Taylor Boulevard, Worcester 01608
- Homewood Suites, 1 Washington Square, Worcester, MA 01604
Dining
Dine where our students dine! Morgan Dining Hall is open from 9:00am-1:30pm (9:00-13:30). The door rate is $12.95 for lunch, and it will be an all-you-can eat meal.
View Morgan Dining Hall on our interactive map.
While in Worcester, we also encourage you to explore the vibrant dining scene in the city. Some of our favorite restaurants are listed in the map below:
Banquet Dinner: Tuckerman Hall
If arriving for the banquet, please enter Tuckerman Hall via the entrance on Tuckerman Street.
Located at 10 Tuckerman Street (corner of Tuckerman and Salisbury Streets) in Worcester, MA, Tuckerman Hall was originally designed at a cost of over $72,000 in 1902 as the clubhouse of The Worcester Woman’s Club. Featuring superb acoustics, Tuckerman Hall operates year round as the home of the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra and as an exquisite rental space for weddings, parties, concerts, lectures, corporate dinners, fundraisers, and meetings.
Tuckerman Hall’s unique spaces include its breathtaking main auditorium (with full stage) that features incomparable plaster detail, phenomenal millwork, a 40’ ceiling, and superb acoustics; a circular-shaped lower hall (with stage) measuring approximately 50’ in diameter; several kitchen and catering spaces; grand hallways; a sound/projection booth; ticket booth; and a number of fireplaces, turret suites that serve as breakout rooms, each designed with a different architectural motif including Dutch, Moorish, Renaissance Revival, and Colonial Revival designs.
Things to Do
Located in the center of Massachusetts, between Boston and Springfield, Worcester is known as the "Heart of the Commonwealth." The city of Worcester is an hour drive from Boston, which connects to all major cities worldwide.
Listed below are some fun activities to do in Worcester:
Art
Worcester Art Museum is right across the street from WPI. The Museum is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–4pm (10:00-16:00).
Sports
Polar Park, a community-centric stadium, is nearby WPI. The Worcester Red Sox, nicknamed the WooSox, began play at Polar Park for the 2021 season competing in the Triple-A East Division.
Nature
The Green Hill Park Farm is home to various gentle farm animals and is a great place for families with children looking for a leisurely activity on a nice day. The farm is open year round and is located within Green Hill Park. The farm is free of charge and open to the public.
Parks
Worcester is home to many parks. Institute Park and Elm Park are 5-10 minutes walk, and City Hall Common is 30 minutes walk away from WPI.
Other Activities
There are many other opportunities, such as visiting EcoTarium, a science museum, for a kid-friendly family trip or Free Play Bar Arcade to relive the 80s and 90s. It is also convenient to take a train from Union Station to Boston for a day trip.
