Commonwealth Honors College (2013)

Certified LEED NC v2009 Sliver

The $192 million, 512,000 S.F. Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community (CHCRC) provides a living and working environment for the UMass Honors Program. The project combines academic and residential components to create a true living and learning community. Students live and take classes in one location, integrating social life with their academic programs. The complex is comprised of seven buildings organized around a series of open courtyards. Facilities include 1,500 student beds, two faculty residences, nine seminar classrooms, program administration offices, communal lounge spaces, and a 24/7 café. The project brings together all classes of students through a mix of unit types, including 600 beds of traditional singles and doubles for freshmen, and 900 beds of suites and apartments for upperclassmen.

The Commonwealth Honors College serves approximately 3,000 students in 88 majors. It provides an intellectually challenging honors curriculum, fosters a community of scholars, and helps prepare future leaders by providing an academic avenue for highly motivated students to delve deeply into their studies. The CHCRC is the largest capital project in campus history and considered one of the best public university complexes of its kind in the nation. 

Building Information

Address: 157 Commonwealth Avenue, Amherst, MA 01003-9253
Completed: Summer 2013
Size: 512,000 GFS
Designer / Architect: William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc.
Construction Manager: Dimeo Construction Company
Owner's Project Manager: NV5
UMass Project Manager: Andrew Soles
UMass Project Planners: Andrew Soles

Sustainability

Resources

LEED Project Scorecard
LEED Project Dashboard
Green Building Brochure

Indoor Air Quality

• Developed and implemented an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Plan during construction and pre-occupancy
• Low-VOC emitting flooring, paints, adhesives, and sealants
• Individual lighting and thermal comfort controls enable occupants to make adjustments for maximum comfort
• Mechanically ventilated spaces utilize energy recovery, with natural ventilation in dorms and apartments
• Chillers with variable frequency drive (VFD) modulate air and water flow to meet system demand

Materials + Resources

• Diverted 84% of construction wastes from landfill
• 25% of new construction materials utilize recycled content
• 16% of building materials were extracted, processed, and manufactured regionally

Water Efficiency

• Achieved an average 36% reduction in potable water use across the entire complex via low-flow plumbing fixtures
• Drought-tolerant landscaping utilizes natural irrigation and creates outdoor gathering spaces for students
• Stormwater management plan increases pervious cover to decrease runoff rate and quantity

Sustainable Sites

• Walkable to restaurants, fitness centers, a bank, and other community services
• Easy access to the PVTA campus bus system
• Bike storage with shower and changing facilities onsite
• 14% of parking is reserved for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles
• Compact building footprints maximize open green space
• Light-colored roofs and hardscaping surfaces reduce the heat island effect

Energy & Atmosphere

• Cut overall energy use by 27% through an improved building envelope, high performance thermal windows and curtain walls, low lighting power density, and multi-level lighting systems
• Expansive windows provide maximum daylight and minimize the need for artificial lighting

Photo Gallery

Images 1 and 3-5 by Robert Benson Photography, courtesy of William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. Images 7-10 by Don Treeger, courtesy of The Republican. Images 1 and 2 courtesy of Site Design.

Media

Videos

Commonwealth Honors College Looks to the Future
UMass Amherst - 11/3/2011

Commonwealth Honors College Update
uvctv - 9/27/2013

About Commonwealth Honors College
UMass Amherst - 10/11/2016

Articles

New Complex Elevates UMass Honors Program
The Boston Globe - 10/14/2013

New UMass Commonwealth Honors College Offers Community With Integrated Living, Classroom Space - MassLive
MassLive - 8/28/2013

Commonwealth Honors College
William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. - n.d.

UMass Elevates Honors Program with New Living & Learning Community
BVH Integrated - n.d.