UMass Boston

University Hall

Campus side entrance to University Hall

UMass Boston's University Hall, previously called General Academic Building No. 1, serves a large cross-representation of students, faculty, and staff and supports the university's growing student enrollment and course offerings. The four-story building provides nearly 2,000 seats in state-of-the-art general purpose classrooms, faculty and staff offices, a café, student lounge and study spaces, as well as specialized space for three academic programs: art, chemistry, and performing arts.

The new building provides approximately 190,000 square feet for:

• General Classrooms and Support Space

  • a 500-seat auditorium
  • four 150–200-seat lecture halls
  • two case-method classrooms
  • a multi-media 63-seat studio classroom
  • thirteen 30–40-seat classrooms
  • five 20-seat seminar classrooms

• Art Department

  • studios for digital media, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and video
  • critique, presentation, and exhibition spaces
  • faculty, staff, and administrative offices

• Chemistry Teaching Laboratories and Non-Research Spaces

  • teaching laboratories for general, physiological, analytical, physical/structural, organic, and inorganic chemistry and associated support spaces
  • faculty, staff, and administrative offices

• Performing Arts Department

  • a reconfigurable theater seating between 130 and 200
  • a 150-seat recital hall
  • dance, acting, and music performance and practice studios
  • faculty, staff, and administrative offices

• Offices and Public Areas

  • faculty and staff offices
  • a café
  • student lounge and study spaces
  • a printing station

University Hall is located on the eastern edge of campus, adjacent to the Campus Center, on master plan site B (the former North Lot). Funded by the UMass Building Authority, Wilson Architects designed the $130 million building. It incorporates many sustainable design strategies and achieved LEED Gold certification in June 2017. Gilbane Building Company served as the project’s construction manager. 

University Hall began a phased opening in January 2016. The ribbon cutting ceremony was held on October 17, 2016.

  • Learn more about the opportunity to Make Your Mark in University Hall