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On Campus and On Point

Student housing as a catalyst for campus connections

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Mount Ida College Residence Hall + Campus Master Plan

Mount Ida College Residence Hall + Campus Master Plan

Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst
Newton, Massachusetts

Finegold Alexander developed a master plan for Mount Ida College, recently renamed the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst, that highlighted the pressing need for on-campus student housing. Serving as a community-building space, the new residence hall features open and airy commons areas in addition to residential spaces. A combination of single, double and triple rooms, configured into pods of 22 students, provides a range of unit types for undergraduates. Generous use of glass provides plenty of natural daylight and contemporary finishes and furniture create a welcoming living and social node.

(Photo credit: Anton Grassl Photography)

Size
36,195 SF
Scope
New Construction, Campus Master Plan
Program
Sleeping Rooms, Lounges, Shared Kitchens, Study Rooms, Faculty Apartments
Sustainability
Awards
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In the news
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Project EUI
Modern dorm building with upward sloping roof, its large windows illuminated from the inside at dusk / night.
Modern dorm in the background with 20th century building to the right of the image.
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"Finegold Alexander convinced us that we could ‘Have our cake and eat it too!’ and they lived up to that promise. I fully endorse the work and their client centered focus."
David G. Healy, (Retired), former Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer
Students scattered in a variety of seating options to study or talk, in front of large windows under a sloping ceiling.
Two students on a wavy bench in front of a wooden accent and doors to the exterior.
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The orientation of the two linked structures and the sitework were designed to mediate and define a pedestrian link between the upper and lower campuses. A passageway at the ground level goes through the two massings; internally there are bridges above the passageway at each floor level connecting the two structures.

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Two students in a small study nook, with posters, chairs and a desk.
College dorm rooms with bunk beds, desks, and large windows with view onto the trees, letting in bright, natural light.
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Marked by its bucolic nature, the Mount Ida campus responds to its surrounding landscape and embraces the original 20th century architecture of the Robert Gould Shaw family estate, which features period details such as brick and stucco. The new residence hall embraces the campus' traditional brick and stucco materials, but also incorporates contemporary elements such as expansive glass, interesting window details, a visually intriguing glass bridge, and a torqued roofline.

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Mount Ida College Residence Hall + Campus Master Plan
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In Progress
FA Energy
Adaptive Reuse
Preservation
Civic
Religious
Higher Ed
K-12
Development