We've been on the cutting edge of sustainable building at UMass Amherst for a long time, and we've got exciting new projects in the works.
Sustainability in our building practices helps us make sure we remain a leader in sustainability across the commonwealth and beyond. From current construction to future plans, we're pushing toward our ultimate goal of carbon zero.
Current Sustainable Building Projects
There are currently many projects in the works to make UMass Amherst a more sustainable place in the future. Some examples are:
- The North Energy Exchange Center (NEEC) project, which uses a regional ground source heat exchange well field for seasonal energy storage and a thermal energy storage (TES) tank for short-term chilled water storage.
- The College of Engineering's Sustainable Engineering Laboratories (78,000 square feet), which recently won the grand prize in the "New Construction" category of the Embodied Carbon Reduction Challenge.
- The Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences’ new Computer Science Laboratories building (90,000 square feet), which utilizes mass timber construction, an on-site solar array, and the EEC energy system to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
Blending the Old with the New
When you explore our campus, you'll find we're blending historic preservation with low-carbon, state-of-the-art building materials and technologies. That includes renovations like the ones to Old Chapel and South College, as well as the cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure of the Olver Design Building. Through these projects, we're celebrating our agricultural school roots while embracing the modern, sustainable design of today and the future.
The Benefits of Rain Gardens
Rain gardens on the UMass campus, like this one at the Olver Design Building, capture runoff from rooftops and other hard surfaces, absorb stormwater, remove harmful pollutants, and reduce erosion, flooding, and the need for irrigation. Native plants create wildlife habitats for pollinators like birds, butterflies, and bees.

Net-Zero Buildings
Crotty Hall, completed in 2016, was the first net-zero energy building on the UMass Amherst campus—it is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes. Energy to heat, cool, and power Crotty Hall comes entirely from renewable energy sources, including a geothermal heat pump system and rooftop photovoltaic array.
Sustainable Stormwater Infrastructure
Some of our building projects have created sustainable stormwater solutions in their construction. Explore the links to learn more about these.

Senior Campus Planner and Architect