A Destination for Computing Along Governors Drive
Computer Science Laboratory, opening in 2025
Construction is underway on a new 90,000-square-foot signature building for the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences that will serve as a hub for learning, innovation, and community. Located on the north side of campus, the integrated academic and research facility will sit between the college’s two existing facilities—the Computer Science Building and the Lederle Graduate Research Center Lowrise—creating a center of activity for UMass Amherst computing along Governors Drive.
Lederle Graduate Research Center Lowrise, circa 1973
The Lederle Graduate Research Center Lowrise (LGRC Lowrise) served as home for the computer science department starting from when it was built in 1973 until 1999, when most faculty and staff moved to the then brand-new Computer Science Building. Today, CICS is back in the Lowrise, occupying all three floors in the main part of the building, including newly renovated office and research spaces, and suites for our career development and advising offices.
Computer Science Building, circa 1999
The Computer Science Building, or the Computer Science Research Center as it was called when it opened in 1999, is currently home to faculty and staff offices, including suites for academic programs and IT staff, a colloquium room, two classrooms, and undergraduate and master’s student commons. The three-floor, 80,000-square-foot building will connect to the new Computer Science Laboratory building on all three floors, more than doubling the size of the existing facility.
This story originally appeared in the Winter 2023–2024 issue of Significant Bits magazine.