University of Massachusetts, Blue Wall at Lincoln Campus Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Firm

Bruner/Cott & Associates, Inc.

Client

University of Massachusetts

Area

32,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$19,200,000

Completion Date

08/2014

Associated firms: CDW Engineers (civil), Cosentini Associates (code), Daedalus Projects (cost), Colburn & Guyette (food service), Haley & Aldrich (LEAN), Lewis Lighting (lighting), Garcia, Galuska DeSousa (MEP), Lim Consultants (structural), Kalin Associates (spec), Lee Kennedy Co. (CM)

Situated at a major crossroads on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, the new Blue Wall in the Lincoln Campus Center is an exciting, re-imagined dining experience. Inspired by European restaurants, the renovated and reconfigured space seamlessly blends the old with the new. Exhibition cooking, enhanced meal offerings, flexible seating arrangements, new interior finishes, an abundance of natural light, increased transparency, and custom LED lighting all work together to improve the formerly dark, outdated space. New circulation strengthens connections for student traffic, increasing the speed and quality of service for greater convenience and patronage. The architects approached the technical and operational goals with careful consideration, using LEAN design techniques to meet the inherent challenge of creating a world-class venue that would accommodate a higher volume of visitors from recently completed adjacent buildings and raise revenues. The result is a unique and vibrant space that has quickly become a central dining destination for students, visitors and the entire UMass Amherst community.