Local News
As enrollment climbs, UMass Amherst has tapped a development team for a major campus housing overhaul.
University of Massachusetts (UMass) campus in Amherst in 2023. Lane Turner/Globe Staff
UMass Amherst has selected a development team to spearhead a long-term overhaul of campus housing, campus officials announced.
The partnership with American Campus Communities, one of the nation’s largest student housing developers, aims to modernize residential life while keeping housing affordable. The plan will also expand amenities for students.
“We are excited for our community to begin working with our new partners on envisioning the near, mid- and long-term future of the flagship campus,” UMass Chancellor Javier A. Reyes said in an announcement.
“By focusing on how residential communities interact with and enhance academic, cultural, and recreational spaces, and aligning private partnership with investments in academic, research, and athletic facilities, we can design a cohesive campus that maintains affordability, achieves sustainability goals, and promotes community wellbeing,” said Reyes.
The university’s announcement comes as colleges and towns across Massachusetts grapple with housing shortages and skyrocketing living costs. UMass Amherst has faced increasing pressure in recent years to expand and improve student housing as enrollment grows and housing becomes more constrained in the Pioneer Valley.
Officials say the redevelopment will happen in phases so students can remain on campus while older buildings are renovated or replaced. In addition to housing, the plan includes looking at ways to enhance dining and retail amenities on campus.
“First-class facilities are needed to match the first-class quality and caliber of our students, faculty, staff, and operations,” said Andy Mangels, vice chancellor for administration and finance. “This project will position UMass Amherst to continue to attract top talent through a phased campus development that emphasizes creativity and affordability.”
University officials said the effort is guided by recent student housing studies, surveys, and focus groups, as well as housing priorities outlined by the Healey-Driscoll administration.
Gov. Maura Healey has called the cost of housing the “number one challenge” facing residents, businesses, and communities across Massachusetts.
Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
