interior image of the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences' new building, the Computer Science Laboratories

Computer Science Laboratories

A collaborative home for learning, discovery, and community at Manning CICS.

At the UMass Amherst Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS), a new, collaborative hub for the future of computing and the Commonwealth is now open.

Designed by Perkins Eastman and opened in fall 2025, the 94,000-square-foot Computer Science Laboratories (CSL) expands the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) with integrated spaces for teaching, research, and community.

Located on the north side of campus and connected to the existing Computer Science Building, the CSL brings students, faculty, and researchers together in classrooms, purpose-built laboratories, student commons, a café, and the Physical Computing Makerspace—all within a light-filled environment designed for connection and discovery.

Since opening, the building has become part of daily life at Manning CICS: a place for classes and research, study and hands-on making, lectures and events, and the everyday, informal interactions that strengthen a community. Building on more than 60 years of leadership in computing research and education, the CSL gives the college room to grow, collaborate, and pursue new ideas in service of the common good.

94,000

gross square feet

3

dedicated student commons

4,000

square feet of makerspace

240

seats in the lecture hall

Exterior photo of the computer science laboratories
Explore

Attend the CSL Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

Join the Manning CICS community in September for the Computer Science Laboratories Dedication and Open House. Explore the building, see what its new spaces make possible, and help us celebrate this milestone for the college.

CSL Ribbon Cutting Celebration
September 10 | 1:00 p.m.
Learn more and register
interior shot of the computer science laboratories with students socializing and studying

Connection

Light-filled student commons, the Snack Overflow Café, and indoor and outdoor gathering spaces make the CSL a welcoming place for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students to study, connect, and build community.

interior shot of students gathered around a whiteboard in the computer sciences laboratories

Learning

A 240-seat lecture hall, two flexible 60-seat classrooms, and the fully equipped Physical Computing Makerspace support everything from large courses and collaborative projects to hands-on experimentation.

Image of Makerspace in Computer Science Laboratories

Discovery

Purpose-built laboratories bring faculty, students, and researchers together, encouraging collaboration across foundational and applied computing in areas including robotics, quantum computing, sustainable computing, and human-computer interaction.

interior image of computer science laboratories will LEED platinum recognition

Sustainability

The first building at UMass Amherst to earn LEED Platinum certification, the CSL uses mass timber, ground-source energy, low-carbon materials, and water-conservation features to reduce its environmental impact and advance the university’s UMass Carbon Zero initiative.  

Photographs taken by Andrew Rugge. Copyright Perkins Eastman.