University of Massachusetts Amherst Old Chapel restored by Finegold Alexander Architects
Boston, Mass. – Finegold Alexander Architects is proud to announce the completion and official re-opening of the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Old Chapel, which was marked with a ribbon cutting on March 23, 2017 in the historic center of campus.
The most iconic and widely recognized building on campus, the Old Chapel first opened in 1885 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The building closed in 1999 because it no longer met code and accessibility requirements. Today, the Old Chapel has emerged following a two-year, $21 million renovation as a vibrant community space for student gatherings, exhibits and events. The project is targeted for LEED Gold certification.
Image © Robert Benson Photography / robertbensonphoto.com
“The historic preservation and renovation of the UMass Amherst Old Chapel allows the iconic building to remain central to the beauty of the campus while serving several new uses,” said Regan Shields Ives, principal, Finegold Alexander Architects. “Preserving this campus icon is key to the continuity of UMass Amherst’s heritage, and we are pleased to have been part of this landmark project.”
“Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, during his first visit to UMass Amherst, envisioned a restored Old Chapel as an inspiring and dynamic space for all who live, work and visit at the Commonwealth’s flagship campus,” said Ed Blaguszewski, executive director of strategic communications at UMass Amherst. “Finegold Alexander and everyone involved in this project have done an extraordinary job in restoring this jewel to its rightful place in campus life.”
Image © Robert Benson Photography / robertbensonphoto.com
The first floor provides a flexible layout for social gatherings, study and events and will serve as a general campus resource. The top floor Great Hall provides a large open space for lectures, seminars, performances and banquets. The building will be available for weddings and private events in the future.
The restoration preserved the best aspects of the historic building while adding an accessible arrival sequence and a delicate glass-entry addition. Internally, an elevator, building systems and technology were incorporated without disturbing the historic fabric. An underground mechanical vault provides energy service to the building and ties into the campus power grid. An interactive display wall on the first floor can be used for presentations, exhibits or general campus information.
Image © Robert Benson Photography / robertbensonphoto.com
About Finegold Alexander Architects (www.faainc.com)
We create imaginative, inspired and transformative architecture. Architecture established by a collective sense of what is possible. Architecture built on client and community needs and values. Architecture derived from a comprehensive knowledge founded on 50 years of experience. We thrive on the complex. We seek exciting and innovative solutions. We delight in the recognition that something worthwhile has been created. We listen. Our buildings speak.
About UMass Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst, founded in 1863, is the flagship of the five-campus UMass system. Home to the Commonwealth Honors College, UMass Amherst incorporates modern teaching methods involving new communication and information technology, yet remains an immersive, residential campus serving more than 22,000 undergraduate and approximately 6,300 graduate students across a comprehensive array of academic programs.
