UMass Boston’s updated master plan includes five construction projects, including a 5-story, 285,500-square-foot building to house its popular nursing school, which currently has classes and facilities in scattered locations across the campus in Dorchester.
Details about the new development facility — dubbed the Beacon— were made public in documents published last week by MEPA, the state’s environmental permitting agency.
A spokesperson for UMass Boston confirmed the plan in a statement to The Reporter: “The University of Massachusetts Boston is committed to continuing to build on its nation-leading nursing program to help train the next generation of skilled nurses and meet the escalating needs for health care professionals in our city and state.
“UMass Boston is in the early stages of those plans and is working collaboratively with city, state, and federal stakeholders as we further develop options for expansion.”
The cost of the building was not disclosed in the filing, but the location will be across the street from the new West Parking Garage in what is now an empty space and a loading dock area. The project will also include renovations to the adjacent Quinn administrative building and additional construction.
“The proposed project addresses the Nursing and Health Science space deficit by leveraging existing facilities through renovation and efficient use of existing space in combination with new construction,” the filing noted. “Renovation of both Quinn and the Service and Supply Building to meet programmatic needs leverage the existing assets and align with the university’s sustainability goal of carbon reduction.”
The building would come to life in two phases, and while it doesn’t have a timeline it does have a funding source through the state budget. Phase one would focus on code upgrades and renovation and expansion of the Exercise & Health Science and Student Services. Phase 2 would introduce an addition to the renovated buildings on its northern and western sides. The new construction would address space shortages and “projected growth for both the [nursing program] and the University.” It would also create space for Admissions offices, and study/lounge space.
The building would abut a new Quad created as part of the previous 2009 master plan, adding to the “gateway” effect of the adjacent Integrated Sciences Building.
“The ‘Beacon’ concept…creates a new welcoming campus entrance at University Drive and a new campus circulation spine to connect to the campus plaza and quad,” the filing stated.
“The massing and concept design highlights the campus entrance with a tower at the street edge, visible from both campus entry points… The façade functions as a screen, offering varied daylighting opportunities between program spaces and the building glows at night.”
The university envisions using natural materials like copper and wood in the construction.
Bill Walczak, a neighbor, UMass Boston alumnus, and president of the Columbia Savin Hill Civic Association, said the new building on the campus seems to make sense and noted that neighbors have no initial objections. Residents had at one time proposed that the program be set up in the Southline building on Morrissey Boulevard across the street from the university.
“UMB is a major player in the community and it’s important to make sure the facilities serve the students the best way they can,” said Walczak. “From the university’s perspective, we understand it. Overall, UMB is the largest single institution in the area and when they demolished the science building, we knew they needed a place.”
University officials noted that the nursing program is the largest program on campus and also that it is one of the biggest nursing schools in the state.
Following the same timeline is a plan to dredge Savin Cove, as was done in 2006. That work would be done around the saltwater inlet structure, docks and the access to Dorchester Bay Channel.
Other projects included in the updated master plan, which is under review by MEPA, include:
•ISC Addition – a 5-story, 30,0000-square-foot addition to the southwest end of the south wing of the ISG building. The addition would house classrooms, class labs, open labs, research labs, and student space/workspace.
•Campus Support – a one-story, approximately 10,000 square-foot building located on vacant land between the West Garage and the Peninsula Apartments.
•Central Plan Extension – A building located southwest of the Healey Library near the Central Plant to house the proposed seawater heat pump system. Cooling towers would also be added to supplement the cooling system during peak summer season.
•Clark Athletic Center – a two-story addition on the north end of the east wing of the Center in the area now known as the temporary Quad Parking Lot. The ground floor of the building would be an entrance and public space, and the second floor would house coaching and recruiting offices.
•The updated plan also calls for infill construction at Wheatley Hall and Healey Library, as well as an 8,000-suqare-foot greenhouse at McCormack Hall.
