Rising on the site of an existing parking lot, UMass Amherst’s new 87,000-sf Worcester Commons will provide the university and its students with a learning hub meant to enhance student life.
The $53 million project will highlight the university’s dining services and include a 1000-seat, all-you-can-eat dining space with 15 different global cuisines, a teaching kitchen, a ground-floor cafe, a commercial bakery, a grab-and-go market, and a new full-service restaurant concept on the top floor.
A “neighborhood center,” will comprise lounges, meeting and club rooms, collaboration spaces, music practice studios, and a fitness center. The site around the new complex will include the replacement of parking and loading spaces, outdoor gathering areas, and community spaces.
See Also: A fresh start: upgrades and expansions mark new school year
Worcester Commons is located at the intersection of two main corridors of the campus and is targeting LEED Gold certification. Shawmut Design and Construction, in partnership with Perry Dean Rogers and Connor Architecture, will design and build the project.
Related Stories
Laboratories | Aug 31, 2021
Pandemic puts science and technology facilities at center stage
Expanding demand for labs and life science space is spurring new construction and improvements in existing buildings.
Giants 400 | Aug 30, 2021
2021 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S.
The 2021 Giants 400 Report includes more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Giants 400 | Aug 26, 2021
2021 University Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the higher education sector
Gensler, AECOM, Turner Construction, and CannonDesign head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest university sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
University Buildings | Aug 20, 2021
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s new STEM building breaks ground
HED designed the project.
University Buildings | Aug 19, 2021
School of Medicine completes on California University of Science and Medicine’s new Colton campus
The project was designed and built to address critical public health needs in an underserved region.
Resiliency | Aug 19, 2021
White paper outlines cost-effective flood protection approaches for building owners
A new white paper from Walter P Moore offers an in-depth review of the flood protection process and proven approaches.
University Buildings | Aug 12, 2021
Central Michigan University’s Chippewa Champions Center completes
The project was designed in partnership between Populous and GMB Architecture + Engineering.
University Buildings | Aug 9, 2021
California State University Long Beach’s new dormitory is one of California’s most sustainable
Gensler designed the project.
University Buildings | Aug 6, 2021
Is air quality the next hot campus amenity?
New research shows that students want to be back on campus, but they—and their parents—are asking more of higher ed institutions.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Aug 5, 2021
Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence opens at the University of Texas at San Antonio
Populous designed the project in collaboration.
