Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Student Union Renovation Begins at UMass Amherst

  • 02/11/19

The Student Union building on the campus of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, closed for renovation in January. The renovation has been designed by Shepley Bulfinch.

When the building reopens for the fall 2020 semester, most interior walls will have been removed and the interior generally repartitioned. The ballroom, now on the main floor, will be one floor higher and feature exposed columns and trusses.

UMASS Student Union

Students will find an active “Main Street” style promenade with concentrated retail, student services, and dining options, and there will be a new entry and outdoor plaza with a streamlined connection to the Lincoln Campus Center. Other renovations include:

  • A consolidated media center serving the Daily Collegian, UVC-TV19, and WMUA that is positioned so activity is visible from the “Main Street.”
  • Expanded student business space.
  • New meeting, activity, and assembly space.
  • Cape Cod Lounge will be repurposed into new, divisible, multipurpose areas for medium-sized assembly and function space.
  • Mechanical and electrical systems will be updated.

Featured

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • Western Kentucky University, Gilbane Announce “Elevate WKU” Partnership

    Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky., recently announced that it has reached the financial close on a on a public-private partnership (P3) with Gilbane Development, according to a news release.

  • RIT Saunders College of Business – Lowenthal Hall Addition

    RIT Saunders College of Business – Lowenthal Hall Addition

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. RIT Saunders College of Business's Lowenthal Hall Addition has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Cal Poly Humboldt Starts Construction on Healthcare Education Hub

    California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata, Calif., recently announced that work has begun on a renovation project that will turn the Stewart Building into a new Healthcare Education Hub, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Sundt Construction Inc. for construction services.