During the Spring 2013 semester, 32 glass panels will be installed in second- and third-floor offices overlooking Atrium Number One in the UMass Boston Campus Center. The school will set an official date for construction to begin as soon as administration receives the latest designs from the project’s architect and final approval from the State Building Inspector.

According to Holly Sutherland, Manager of Master Plan and Construction Communications at the university, the construction is meant to limit noise coming between floors and enhance the school experience for the students. “All the students who use the office space will have a more private, quiet environment”

Geoffrey Combs, Director of the Campus Center further stressed the importance of a noise-free work area. “Students are going to be able to have it calmer and quiet. You’re going to be able to have interactive discussions and students doing what they need to do in their student organization space.”

As a result of the upcoming project, the Tutoring Center has been moved to the 8th floor of the Healy Library. “The library has been really accommodating, helping us with the transition,” says Jeanne Duggan, Tutoring Program Coordinator. She felt that this relocation of the center had not been detrimental in any way, in part because tutoring has not yet begun for the semester. Her department will start providing services for students on Feb. 11.

Duggan’s new offices are farther from the other academic support programs than she would like, but otherwise, she said, she had no problems with the Tutoring Center’s new location. “This is a great space. This is a natural space for students to come to study. Being where we were in the Campus Center, there always wasn’t enough space, and also sometimes tutors preferred to work in the library anyway. Normally, if they weren’t on the first floor of the Campus Center, they were here.”

Installation of all the panels is expected to take 60 working days to complete.