A New Building for the Future of Computing
A new $125 million building for the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences will shine as a world-class hub for education, research, and outreach, helping the college meet the demand for computing talent in the Commonwealth.
Slated to open in the spring of 2025, the building is substantially funded by a $75 million state capital commitment from the Baker-Polito administration. It will expand the college’s facilities by creating approximately 90,000 gross square feet of new space designed to accommodate the enormous growth in the college’s enrollment over the past five years, and to support talent that will fuel business growth and research collaborations.
The new building will connect to the east side of the current computer science building, physically linking each existing floor to an open, light-filled commons for graduate and undergraduate students. The commons will connect both groups of students to the college’s larger community of resources, and showcase visually interesting research in makerspaces and special purpose labs focusing on disciplines such as robotics.
In the spotlight
“This is a place that has been doing great things, and for us as a team it was not hard to make the decision to make a very significant [investment] — maybe the biggest one we’ve made as an administration — in a particular higher ed program here at UMass Amherst. I know you will do great things with it.”
As an energy-efficient and sustainable facility, the building will meet the minimum certification level of LEED Silver®, prioritize low energy use, minimize the use of fossil fuels, and serve as a model for the UMass Carbon Zero initiative to create a net-zero carbon emissions campus.
The project will incorporate ground-source heat exchange and a high-performance envelope. The building will also feature research lab modules, a 240-seat auditorium, interactive teaching classrooms, meeting spaces, conference rooms, and huddle rooms.
In the spotlight
“Every aspect of design for our new building is shaped by what will enhance the student experience, what will promote a sense of belonging for all members of the college community, and what will promote formal and informal learning.”