Building Fundamentals

Opened in October 2020, the Worcester Commons building at UMass Amherst is an 87,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility designed by Perry Dean Rogers Architects to anchor the Northeast Residential Area. Replacing the original mid-century dining hall, this $68 million, three-story building functions as a vibrant student life hub that seamlessly blends award-winning dining with campus community spaces. […]

Experience the full construction of the John W. Olver Design building at UMass Amherst through an extensive timelapse video. Filmed over 200 days, this footage provides an up-close look at mass timber assembly, including the placement of columns, beams, and CLT slabs. Watch the entire structural process unfold in this detailed 72-minute visual record.

Yesterday I came across this very nice looking wayfinding sign in a recently constructed building. As you can see, it is a beautiful use of material (solid wood) that adds a contrasting warmth to an otherwise very contemporary design. One thing I noticed, however, was that the panel was cupping (as you can see in […]