Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

UMass Amherst to Build New School of Public Health & Health Services HUB

  • By Matt Jones
  • 10/17/24

The University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, Mass., recently began construction on a new home for the School of Public Health & Health Services (SPHHS), whose current academic spaces are currently scattered around campus, according to a news release. The 26,800-square-foot HUB project will create a “unified gathering place for SPHHS,” according to the news release, for a variety of services. The university partnered with Leers Weinzapfel Architects for the project’s design.

Image courtesy of Leers Weinzapfel Architects

The facility will include team-based learning classrooms, collaboration spaces, seminar rooms, advising offices, and a central commons space overlooking an exterior entry plaza. The project has an estimated completion date of 2026.

The new facility will connect with an existing gymnasium, which currently plays home to the school’s Department of Kinesiology. The entryway will use a mass timber structure and wooden staircase, the news release reports, adding a sense of warmth to study spaces and school events. Flexible classrooms will come in various sizes.

The exterior envelope will match adjacent buildings with warm-toned metal panels along the ground floor and light-colored, textured brick on the upper floors. The building was designed to facilitate public health, pedestrian movement, access to natural light, and biophilia. The project will also use net-zero-ready, all-electric energy systems.

“This new building will become the heart of our community, embodying our commitment to education and our student-first mission. Thoughtfully designed, it will feature classrooms, seminar and collaboration spaces, and offices dedicated to student success and career planning,” said Anna Maria Siega-Riz, SPHHS Dean. “It will host our school’s symposiums, gatherings, and research events. The architecture will incorporate natural elements—such as abundant natural light, organic materials, and shapes inspired by nature—creating an environment that fosters well-being, reduces stress, and enhances emotional resilience. These principles are at the core of our School and university’s mission.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.

  • California District Opens New Robotics Center

    The Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) in Cupertino, Calif., recently held a Grand Opening ceremony for a new, district-wide Robotics Center, according to a news release. The 14,500-square-foot facility was designed by Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA); Landmark Constructors served as the builder and Blach Construction as general construction manager.

  • UT-San Antonio Begins Residence Hall Renovations

    The University of Texas at San Antonio recently began a $6-million renovation project to one of its residence halls, according to a news release. Originally completed in 1986, Chisolm Hall measures in at 120,860 square feet and is the oldest and largest residence hall on campus.