The Southwest Concourse revitalization project is a comprehensive renewal of the most densely populated area on the UMass Amherst campus. The project began as infrastructure replacement for an outdated area of housing on the flagship campus and grew into a complete renovation of the entire five-acre landscape, including the main pedestrian concourse, adjacent plazas, and related parking areas. Comprehensively, the paving to planting ratio on the site was completely inverted. The 70% of original impervious pavement was reduced to 40% hardscape in the re-design. The 30% of original planting and pervious space was expanded to 60% new and restored planting and pervious areas. The introduction of a highly visible stormwater system and associated bioswales, plazas and infiltration gardens had never been previously attempted on the campus, and pioneered the removal of over 25 catch basins and several hundred linear feet of sub-surface stormwater piping. The scale and diversity of native trees, shrubs, grasses and groundcovers takes design form and influence from the regional palette.

Recognition
Society for College and University Planning | Merit Award 2014
Boston Society of Landscape Architects | Excellence Award 2012

Collaborators
SEA Consultants
Pine and Swallow Environmental

Photography
Charles Mayer
STIMSON
Ngoc Doan