UMass Amherst Announces Creation of Retail, Event and Meeting Space in Amherst

Chancellor Javier Reyes announces the creation of UMass Downtown during the 2024 Community Breakfast on Aug. 27, 2024.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst has announced the creation of UMass Downtown, a multipurpose retail, event and meeting space in downtown Amherst. Chancellor Javier Reyes announced the project Tuesday at the 57th annual Community Breakfast, hosted by UMass Amherst and the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.

UMass Downtown, scheduled to open in the 2024-25 academic year at 108 N. Pleasant St., will provide a dynamic UMass experience in the heart of the Amherst's central business district. Serving as a boutique retail location and campus information and welcome center during regular business hours, in the evenings it will be a regular site for small lectures, readings and workshops. Additionally, the space will act as a welcome center for prospective students and their families and a hub of town-gown interaction with community members.

"When I arrived at UMass Amherst, I said I hoped to see more UMass in the community and more of the community at UMass," Chancellor Reyes said. "We're putting words into action with UMass Downtown. It will be an important place for connection between the campus and community, introducing and inviting area residents to be a part of the campus experience. It is also evidence of our enduring commitment to community engagement."

UMass Downtown will be managed by the Office of Community Relations and University Events, in partnership with UMass Auxiliary Services. Other campus partners include UMass Athletics, Student Affairs and Campus Life, the Dean of Students Office, Admissions and the UMass Amherst Foundation.

UMass enlisted Kuhn Riddle Architects and Designers to help develop the vision that project leads Nancy Buffone, associate vice chancellor for university relations, and Tony Maroulis, executive director of community and strategic initiatives, put forward after consultation with campus leadership. The Kuhn Riddle team, led by Mallory Nurse, have achieved a design that aims to welcome visitors and community members while creating instantly recognizable, even Instagram-worthy moments to drive foot traffic to the space.

"One of our goals is to draw people to UMass Downtown through frequent events of 40 or fewer people," says Buffone. "Our goal is to develop programming that will also positively impact our local restaurants and downtown businesses. Additionally, we look forward to future direct business-to-business partnerships and participating with programming by the Amherst Business Improvement District and Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce."

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