 MIT 's on @-@ campus nuclear reactor is one of the most powerful university @-@ based nuclear reactors in the United States . The prominence of the reactor 's containment building in a densely populated area has been controversial , but MIT maintains that it is well @-@ secured . In 1999 Bill Gates donated US $ 20 million to MIT for the construction of a computer laboratory named the " William H. Gates Building " , and designed by architect Frank O. Gehry . While Microsoft had previously given financial support to the institution , this was the first personal donation received from Gates . 
