Welcome Back Everybody!
Here is part two of the three part series emphasizing the changes that are coming to the University. This week we will be focusing on the three new construction projects located on the lovely:
East Campus
University Suites
Welcome to what is going to be the most luxurious residential building yet. This brand new building opens up in the Fall of 2013. I am very excited for this to open up and I am crossing my fingers that I will be able to sneak a spot into one of these suites. The UML website emphasizes:
“The residence hall will provide housing for 472 students in four and six bed suites. There will be a ground-floor common area with café and multi-purpose room open to the Umass Lowell community. Each residential floor will have two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.”
Fun Fact: This residence hall will be the home to students in the honors program as well as other students.
University Crossing
This new project will be ready by Fall 2014. It will be the pride and joy of campus life and will hopefully be finished on time and before I graduate. The UML website describes it as:
” Situated at the center of the Umass Lowell campus, University Crossing will serve as a hub of student activity with a large new bookstore, food court and event spaces, as well as some administrative offices. University Crossing will provide an important connection between the University’s three campuses and the downtown business and cultural district, all located within walking distance.”
Fun Fact: This property, which was originally a hospital, was acquired by the University for $6.3 million dollars. The University also intends to renovate this buildings with millions more.
The New University Avenue Bridge
Last on the list is the new University Ave bridge. As you can see, construction on this bridge is already under way. This bridge will help connect the future University Crossing, East campus, and North campus. Currently, the bridge we have is a little bit packed and creates an awkward intersection for vehicles. The new bridge hopes to fix all of those issues.
Fun Fact: The fate of the current bridge, formally referred to as the Lowell Memorial Textile Bridge, is up in the air. There is currently a debate as to whether or not to keep the bridge as a walking bridge or to destroy it altogether.
Well I hope you enjoyed my blog this week. Don’t forget to come back next week for the final blog of this three part series that will focus on South Campus.
Also if you missed part 1 of this series here is a link to it: http://www.umlorientationambassadors.blogspot.com/2012/10/umass-lowell-progressive-change.html
-Tim