The Institute (location)

The Institute is a location in the Commonwealth

Background
The hidden headquarters of the organization known as the Institute, located deep underground. The Institute was built upon what was once known as the Commonwealth Institute of Technology, or C.I.T. While the college itself laid in ruins for more than two centuries, at the time of the Great War, those present took refuge underground.

The Institute was formally founded by the descendents of the original survivors, who dug into the earth and built increasingly sophisticated residential facilities and laboratories, starting an ongoing process of infrastructure expansion. Its security system architecture is derived from the C.I.T. Code Defender, an intrusion countermeasure system developed before the Great War. Terminals running the original version of the system still remain in the Institute's inventory, despite advances made by the SRB.

"Quiet time" for resting runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Synths are the primary labor force of the location.

Advanced Systems


Headed by Madison Li, a small lab area with multiple work stations and a firing range used to test new weaponry. Contains the entrance to the reactor room. Their primary focus is the implementation of Phase Three, a fusion reactor that would fulfil the Institute's power needs for the foreseeable future. This is also where they created the experimental synth relay grenades, which will automatically teleport in multiple synths to fight for the player character where thrown. Madison Li and Evan Watson, who begins the quest Appropriation, can be found here. Young Shaun can be found here following the first meeting with Father.

BioScience


One of the larger labs, BioScience is filled with plants and synthetic gorillas. There is a series of connected labs that have been closed off and abandoned. The quest Building a Better Crop can be found here from Isaac Karlin, and also Hypothesis can be started with Clayton Holdren.

The BioScience division specializes in fields of study such as botany, genetics and medicine. They are also responsible for all biotech advancements, including crop production, pharmaceuticals and genetic engineering. They cultivate highly specialized breeds of flora for use in food and medicine, providing the majority of the Institute's food. They are currently experimenting with synthetic gorillas.

Concourse


The concourse is a large cylindrical-shaped subterranean structure with four floors. Hallways wrap the outskirts of the cylinder leaving the middle section open for a large atrium of trees and fountains, with a helix-shaped elevator going to the surface levels where the teleporter is located. All four divisions of the Institute are located along the perimeter of the concourse, as well as residential areas and both vendors.

Facilities
The Facilities division under Allie Filmore is responsible for keeping the Institute in operation on a day-to-day basis. It performs daily tasks like servicing the life support systems, ventilation, and the power network. All the old technology that forms the foundation of the Institute's efforts requires constant maintenance to prevent blackouts. They keep the Institute's mechanical and electrical systems running and maintain and upgrade all of the systems that make it possible to live and work underground. They have a large number of first generation synths used for maintenance duties. They are simple, but effective tools for keeping the Institute in operation. Members of the division include Filmore, Doctor Lawrence Higgs, a mechanical engineer overseeing the major life support and security systems, Doctor Evan Watson in power distribution, and Doctor Newton Oberly, responsible for food and housing. He liaisons with BioScience to ensure that meals are balanced for optimal nutrition.

FEV Lab


The FEV lab is the source of the majority of Super Mutants found in the Commonwealth. Many years of experimentation with the Forced Evolutionary Virus took place here. To access the lab one must either hack a Master level terminal in the main BioScience lab which provides direct access to the FEV lab. Or, pick a Novice locked door in the back hallways of the BioScience division. The serum that Virgil asks to retrieve to cure his mutation is found here as well as the holotape "Brian Virgil personal log 0176."

Old Robotics


The sealed off, dilapidated section of the facility, only accessed when progressing through the quest The Nuclear Option. It's inhabited by many hostile synths and four laser turrets, which can be deactivated using a terminal. On the main floor, there is a Sentry Bot which can be activated with the robotics terminal. It will fight the synths that are on the assembly floor, but will also be hostile to the player character. The exit is through a circular hatch in the back of the main assembly floor, which will lead to the BioScience division.

Public Works


This area is accessed from an underwater pipe due south of Ticonderoga, which leads into a small flooded underground room. There is a terminal-locked security gate in the northeast corner, leading to a small area containing a steamer trunk with leveled loot.

Reactor


The reactor room is only accessible through the Advanced Systems division after completing the quest Mass Fusion for the Institute or in The Nuclear Option quest for the Brotherhood of Steel, Minutemen or Railroad. Upon entering, there is a long sloped hallway that leads to a larger room with the reactor in the middle, accessible by a catwalk. Depending on which faction the Sole Survivor chooses there will be a change in the events that take place here.

Robotics


Headed by Alan Binet, Robotics is a branch of the Institute responsible for the manufacture of synths. Currently focused on mass production and induction of third generation synths, it is also responsible for processing upgrades that ensure synths remain functional at optimal capacity. Currently, the division is implementing existing upgrades.

Robotics is the smallest of the four labs by accessible areas, consisting of a single large room containing the Institute's synth assembler. A constant stream of synths are being produced here, being assembled in a pool in the middle before climbing out and walking through into the inaccessible processing section.

Sublevel 21-D


A very small area is accessible only by an elevator in the main atrium. It contains a storage room and heavy construction equipment being used to expand the Institute's infrastructure.

Synth Retention Bureau


Headed by Justin Ayo, the SRB was designed to track down and return rogue synths to the Institute. To do this, the Institute created a specific synth model called the Courser. Captured synths have their minds wiped and the synth return to duty with no memory of its time on the surface. If the SRB staff is unable to complete the wipe, the synth is disposed of. Another priority of the SRB is surveillance, achieved by using watchers to monitor the surface remotely.

Justin Ayo can be found here. He gives the quest Political Leanings. X6-88 can be found here if the Sole Survivor did not recruit him as a companion.

Loot
Loot will become unavailable if banished from the Institute, or after completing The Nuclear Option for any of the three factions. See section articles linked below for list of items.

Appearances
The Institute appears The location is mentioned in Fallout 3 and in Mr. House's obituary

Bugs

 * A standalone elevator car may spawn in front of the stairs that are supposed to lead up to the reactor during The Nuclear Option.
 * Before and even after the player character has become the director, if they are caught using Madison Li's terminal, all the Institute NPCs will become hostile, including X6-88.
 * Silver Shroud Radio can be received in the Old Robotics section, if the radio station is active during The Nuclear Option.