Amherst, MA
The STIMSON team worked closely with Finegold Alexander Architects over a three-year period on the meticulous restoration of the historic chapel at the heart of the UMass Campus. The iconic 1885 structure had stood empty for the last twenty years, and the transformation of both building and landscape has restored life to this critical social hub of the University. The renovated landscape takes advantage of the sweeping views over the campus pond, preserving existing groves of legacy Sugar Maples and Oaks that form part of the campus arboretum, while additional tree plantings have further enhance the grounds. The spaces designed around the building include a gathering terrace along the main campus walk, a gently pitched lawn hillside facing the pond, and an arced terrace at the building’s new main entrance. This terrace integrates sloped walks and provides ADA access to the raised main floor of the building without compromising its historic architectural integrity.
Collaborators
Finegold Alexander Architects
Recognition
Victorian Society in America Preservation Award 2017
Massachusetts Historical Commission 2017 Historic Preservation Award
SCUP/AIA-CAE Merit Award 2017
LEED Gold Certified
Photography
Ngoc Doan