UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences
“This critical project will strengthen connections for the entire community.”
Client: UMass Building Authority | University of Massachusetts
Location: Amherst, MA
Project Size: 26,000SF
Architect: Leers Weinzapfel Associates
Construction Manager: Fontaine Brothers
The new 26,000 square foot structure serves as the heart of UMass Amherst’s School of Public Health & Health Sciences, originally housed in seven locations around campus.
By establishing a “Hub” for the SPHHS it created a unified space for open houses, student events, academic talks/panels, awards ceremony, and will help support future growth. The new Hub remedies the School’s space shortfall by providing more room to handle the significant enrollment growth over the last 15 years and it will improve student retention and graduation rates with the addition of a Student Success Center.
The project targeted LEED Gold certification by incorporating high-performance envelope / architecturally integrated solar shading, all-electric mechanical systems (Executive Order 594 compliant), and an upsized generator for systems resilience. Leveraging the SPHHS expertise, a Healthier Materials Strategy was developed and incorporated mass timber structure. The project management team utilized LEAN principles including pull planning to establish and successfully manage the project schedule. TERVA led the LEAN process by assembling the CM, design team, Owner, and Campus constituents in coordinated sessions.