Fieldstone Student Housing

UMASS Amherst, the largest public research university in New England, sits on almost 1,450 acres in the Pioneer Valley region of Western Massachusetts. As home to the sixth largest on-campus residential program in the country, the university needed to modernize its undergraduate, graduate, and student family housing to strengthen student retention and success. The construction of a new residence hall was also critical for the town of Amherst, as a lack of on-campus living options after a student’s first year had historically put significant pressure on the local housing market.

The Fieldstone Project, comprising 825 beds, was the first building on the UMASS campus to be developed through a public-private partnership. The fast-tracked project schedule, as well as the design-build nature of the construction, required seamless communication among the general contractor, the architect of record, and all their sub-consultants. Adding to the complexity of the project was the fact that residence halls are subject to both Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act (FHA) accessibility requirements. Massachusetts state requirements also applied, which can differ from both federal codes.

DiMella Shaffer architects, a frequent collaborator with KMA on multifamily housing projects, was chosen by the University to design this project. The firm relied heavily on KMA’s expertise to meet the multiple challenges of this complex undertaking.