UMass Lowell is a nationally recognized research university with roots in technology and science. The administration wanted to augment these academics with a new center for their Manning School of Business that explored the business side of technology and capitalized on the entrepreneurial nature inherent to both areas of learning. The University’s vision was to create transparency between the two programs, so that each would inform and inspire the other.
The placement of the Business Center in the midst of the campus’ new Innovation District, the heart of their engineering program, was a deliberate choice, creating serendipitous interaction between business and technology. The Business Center’s open and inviting plan, transparency and configuration complement the business school’s revamped curriculum and encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration.
The new building also has a seamless and natural connection to the abutting 1970’s Lydon Library. This helped present a fresh face on the main avenue and created a major outdoor plaza on an area of campus that did not have one. And in anticipation of inevitable campus expansion, the building’s western façade was designed to easily integrate with future phases.
Material Used :
1. EFCO – Glazing Structure – 5600 System
2. Centria – Metal Cladding – Formawall System
3. Trespa – Phenolic Panels
4. Viracon – Exterior Glass
5. KI – Demountable Partitions
6. Sunrise Systems – LED Ticker Displays
7. Trox technik – Active Chilled Beams
8. US Smoke & Fire – Deployable Draft Curtain
9. ATAS International – Inspire Wall, transpired solar collector
10. Clark Dietrich – Steel Framing
