Anyone who has ever been in Wheatley will be pleased by the more straightforward design of the new UMB Campus Center. The Campus Center is the construction site visible when strolling along the catwalk toward Wheatley.

According to Stephan Chait, project manager of the UMB Campus Center, the new building is approximately 66% complete. The finished structure will not resemble the late 1960’s American architectural style of the McCormack, Wheatley or Science buildings. The new building will be “transparent and bright,” adding a new look and feel to the UMB campus.

According to Chait, the main advantage of the new building is social interaction. The building is designed to “consolidate new services for students, a conducive environment for social interaction and provide spaces where people can talk, eat, and sit.” However, this is not an academic building. In other words, all classroom space will remain in the older buildings.

The Wheatley and McCormack cafeterias will no longer be servicing the community of UMass Boston, as most floors of the campus center will have food service. Student Services such as the Advising Center, Disabled Students Center, Registrar, and the Bursar will re-locate to the Campus Center. Also moving will be student organizations recognizable from the 4th floor of the Wheatley building, such as Student Government and Student Life.. The new building will incorporate the UMB bookstore as well as study and recreational facilities, such as game rooms and lounges.

Aside from the new Campus Center, the building most recently constructed building was the Clark Athletic Center, which was built in 1982. Now, over twenty years later, the UMass Boston community will have the benefit of a “new, bright, exquisite building” will enable students to do everything from one location.

The expected date of completion is December 2003. Shuttle buses will be dropping students off in front of the main entrance of the new building as opposed to the front of the administration building, emphasizing to the UMB community that the Campus Center is literally a new “gateway into campus.” Students interested in the new Campus Center project can take a virtual tour through the UMB website by clicking on About UMB.