University of Massachusetts: Polymer Center

the project:

172,000 sf
Construction Completed: 1996
Offices, Secretarial Stations, Laboratories, Libraries, Lounges

This large, complex facility serving the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA presented problems of scale and repetition. The firm collaborated with architects Ellenzweig and Associates to overcome these difficulties and create interiors that made the building legible to even first time visitors. The building was split into two wings, with one devoted to laboratories and the other to student and faculty offices. To avoid repetition, the firm designed three office schemes of custom millwork, allowing professors to select their preference. The public spaces on each floor were also each given distinctive finishes and floor patterns to highlight their unique identities. Labs were designed in a frank, utilitarian manner, focusing on durability and efficiency, exposing systems for easy access, with light countertop surfaces and ceilings designed to reflect and make the most of available daylight.

Interior Designer: Polly Dithmer
Architect: Ellenzweig and Associates, Inc.