UMass Amherst Breaks Ground on School of Public Health & Health Sciences Hub

The University of Massachusetts Amherst held a ceremonial groundbreaking in September of 2024 for the School of Public Health & Health Sciences Hub. Designed by Leers Weinzapfel Associates, the $43 million facility will collocate six departments previously dispersed in seven campus locations. Flexible classrooms for team-based learning will promote student engagement, complemented by sophisticated seminar rooms, collaboration spaces, and an outdoor event venue. Office areas will include time-share cubicles to support hybrid work models while maximizing efficiencies. The 26,800-gsf structure will also offer research space for interventional data collection and focus group discussions.

A minimum of LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the building, which has a projected EUI of 29 kBTU/sf and is expected to achieve an 82 percent reduction as compared to baseline energy use. In alignment with the university's Carbon Zero Plan, the Hub will feature net-zero-ready, all-electric systems. A high-performance exterior with triple glazing will leverage deep vertical fins for passive sun and glare control.

Fontaine Bros. is the general contractor for the development, with TERVA Corporation acting as the owner's project manager. Site work began in May of 2024 and completion is expected in summer of 2026.