The University of Massachusetts Amherst broke ground in September of 2022 on a $125 million building for the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences. Designed as a world-class hub for education, discovery, and outreach, the 90,000-gsf facility will provide research labs, interactive classrooms, maker spaces, conference and huddle rooms, and a 240-seat auditorium. The existing computer science building will be physically linked on each floor to the new development by an open, light-filled commons for graduate and undergraduate students. Featuring a high-performance envelope and a ground-source heat exchanger, the highly efficient structure will serve as a model for the UMass Carbon Zero initiative by significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels. A minimum of LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the project, which is slated for occupancy in spring of 2025.
