UMass Boston Residence Halls

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston opened its first-ever residence halls at the start of the 2018 academic year. The 1,077-bed student housing complex consists of two buildings, ranging from nine to twelve stories, offering a mixture of styles ranging from single-occupancy apartments to four-person units. It includes living-learning amenities open to the entire UMass Boston community, such as seminar rooms, study lounges, and a 500-seat dining commons. Code Red Consultants served as code consultant for the project, preparing a comprehensive code compliance approach report as well as construction fire safety and NFPA 241 programs.

Marking an important milestone for the university, the project aimed to provide an inclusive residential student environment. As such, Code Red Consultants sought and received approval for a plumbing code variance to provide gender neutral showers and bathrooms that are open to the corridors on each residential level for use by all occupants.

The UMass Boston residence halls were designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects and built by Shawmut Design and Construction. The complex was built through a public-private partnership, a model that is the first of its kind for the UMass system. The UMass Building Authority contracted with Capstone Development Partners to lease a portion of the UMass Boston campus to construct the residence halls. Provident Commonwealth Education Resources, Inc., a nonprofit management entity, owns and operates the facility, and UMass Boston oversees student life.

Location

Boston, Mass.

Size

260,000 SF

Cost

$120 million

Completion

2018

Photography Credit

Code Red Consultants

UMass Boston Residence Halls

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston opened its first-ever residence halls at the start of the 2018 academic year. The 1,077-bed student housing complex consists of two buildings, ranging from nine to twelve stories, offering a mixture of styles ranging from single-occupancy apartments to four-person units. It includes living-learning amenities open to the entire UMass Boston community, such as seminar rooms, study lounges, and a 500-seat dining commons. Code Red Consultants served as code consultant for the project, preparing a comprehensive code compliance approach report as well as construction fire safety and NFPA 241 programs.

Marking an important milestone for the university, the project aimed to provide an inclusive residential student environment. As such, Code Red Consultants sought and received approval for a plumbing code variance to provide gender neutral showers and bathrooms that are open to the corridors on each residential level for use by all occupants.

The UMass Boston residence halls were designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects and built by Shawmut Design and Construction. The complex was built through a public-private partnership, a model that is the first of its kind for the UMass system. The UMass Building Authority contracted with Capstone Development Partners to lease a portion of the UMass Boston campus to construct the residence halls. Provident Commonwealth Education Resources, Inc., a nonprofit management entity, owns and operates the facility, and UMass Boston oversees student life.