Study of UMass Amherst Buildings Finds Need for $833 Million in New Investment in Next Five Years

May 8, 2007

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Ed Blaguszewski 413/545-0444

Investments Would Boost Revitalization of Flagship UMass Campus

AMHERST, Mass. – To sustain the progress of the current construction and renovation program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the campus must invest an additional $833 million in facilities over the next five years, a new UMass Amherst report states, based on a comprehensive assessment of all education and general administration buildings.

New sources of funding will be required to meet these immediate needs. The report is the latest piece of evidence as UMass leaders push for a higher education bond bill to keep the university on its current path of growth.

“On the flagship UMass Amherst campus, we have more than 140 buildings that support the teaching, research and public service mission of the university,” said Joyce Hatch, vice chancellor for administration and finance. “Many of them require immediate investment to ensure that they continue to support important academic and administrative functions.” The new Building Condition Report was developed by administration and finance staff with assistance from Sightlines Facilities Asset Advisors, a nationally recognized consulting firm. The work of other consultants also was used to evaluate certain buildings. The report and its recommendations have been presented to Chancellor John V. Lombardi and University of Massachusetts President Jack M. Wilson.

The Amherst campus’ recent capital improvements include completion of the North Residential apartment complex, the Marriott Center for Hospitality Management and the renovated Berkshire Dining Commons. Meanwhile, construction continues on a number of major projects, including the Integrated Sciences Building, Studio Arts Building, Central Heating Plant and renovation of Skinner Hall. These and other campus renovations including creation of a Learning Commons in the W.E.B. Du Bois Library have been well received by faculty and students.

The current UMass Amherst capital plan of $790 million, Hatch said, is largely funded by the campus, with 87 percent coming from campus monies and only 13 percent from the state. The Building Condition Report notes that in addition to a new $833 million investment over the next five years, an extra $524 million is required during years six to 10, and another $347 million is needed beyond 10 years. Beyond these needs, infrastructure requirements must be addressed: $37 million over the next five years, $37 million during years six to 10, and another $40 million beyond 10 years. This category includes work on roads, paths, athletic fields and parking lots as well as steam, water, sewer and electrical distribution systems. The total investment to address these campus needs comes to $1.8 billion. The campus, Hatch said, has limited resources to continue to bear the burden of addressing these facilities and infrastructure needs.

The report details the improvements the investments will yield for faculty and students, and the consequences if action does not occur. Buildings were placed in one of six categories, according to their condition and the kinds of investments needed, ranging from “Keep Up” to “Dispose and Replace.” The recommendations include the closing and demolition of nine structures currently occupied and seven structures that are vacant or in minimal use. The currently occupied structures are the (Old) Chenoweth Laboratory, Cold Storage Building, French Greenhouse, Hatch Laboratory, Hills House, Photo Lab, South College, Student Union Building and West Experiment Station. The buildings vacant or in minimal use are the Abattoir, Apiary Garage, Hadley Farm Manor House, Montague House, Munson Hall Annex, Small Machine Shop and University Apartments.

Special attention was taken to evaluate “legacy” or older buildings on campus. Nearly 1 million square feet of the 6.5 million square feet of space studied was built before World War II; some of the buildings have significant historical importance while others are fine examples of the architecture of their time or occupy a significant location on campus.

“The campus has stated goals related to attracting and retaining top faculty and students and increasing research activity,” Hatch said. “Achieving these goals will require adequate facilities. All of these needs are competing for available capital in the near future. The purpose of this building assessment is to provide the context for discussing the priorities for the next round of capital investment and to guide the decisions on how these funds are invested to support the campus mission.”

In related news, today UMass President Wilson will testify about the university's most pressing capital needs to the Legislature's Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets. Wilson is expected to outline a plan that would allocate 54 percent of UMass capital funds to basic maintenance, repair and renovations, 40 percent to new construction projects, 2 percent to new equipment, 2 percent to information technology and 2 percent to other related expenditures.

Over the past seven years, the University of Massachusetts system has spent $1.3 billion in capital funds on building construction, restoration and improvement through state bond allocations, university operating funds and UMass Building Authority bonds across the five University of Massachusetts campuses.

Copies of the UMass Amherst Building Condition Report and the companion Legacy Buildings study can be downloaded at www.umass.edu/fp.

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