The Pavilion to honor UMass Amherst service workers will be erected in the Orchard Hill area of campus on land east of Prexy’s Ridge. The project, funded by a generous anonymous donor, is currently in design with completion of the facility anticipated for spring 2024.

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The open-air facility will be available to the entire campus community for quiet contemplation as well as planned events. The designer for the project is the Sigrid Miller Pollin Studio. The university recently reached out to AFSME, the union that represents service workers, to share information on the project update.

The university chose the Orchard Hill site for the project because officials believe it is the best setting for its purpose. Previously, plans called for the project to be constructed on land adjacent to the Arthur F. Kinney Center for Renaissance Studies off East Pleasant Street. There are currently no plans to develop anything at the Renaissance Center site.

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The pavilion project will include an approximately 1,600-square-foot pavilion with a trellis-covered, 620-square-foot deck on its northern edge and a 620-square-foot stone patio on the southern side. Stairs on the northern side will double as access from the lower portion of the immediate site as well as a small amphitheater. Two stainless steel plant-themed gates and a screen will be featured at the southern entry and act as a backdrop for southern-facing events. 

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The materials for the project will include cast-in-place reinforced white concrete walls that diminish in height from south to north opening the main space to both intimate and distant surrounding views. The concrete walls are perforated with color laminated glass openings, and the framed areas above the concrete walls will also contain light steel frames housing small laminated color glass.

An accessible path will lead visitors to the south entry of the pavilion. Toilet facilities will be provided adjacent to the pavilion.