UMass Chan Medical School – Paul J. DiMare Center
Worcester, Mass.
Merit Award
Presented by Shawmut design and construction
Owner: UMass Chan Medical School/UMass Building Authority
Main design company: ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge
Construction Manager: Shawmut design and construction
Civil Engineer: HBV
Structural Engineer: CSR
MEP Engineer: BR+A
Architect: ZGF Architects
The nine-story, 354,000-square-foot facility advances cutting-edge biomedical research and next-generation medical education while setting a new standard for sustainability.
With more than 70 principal researchers and their teams, the facility offers flexible wet labs, active learning classrooms, hybrid-ready instructional spaces, and shared public areas that foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
Strategically located between two research buildings, the project required the demolition of an active six-story garage and precise logistics to minimize disruption.
Photo by Robert Benson Photography, courtesy of Shawmut Design and Construction
At the heart of the sustainability strategy is an innovative geothermal system installed beneath the campus quad. The system, made up of 75 closed-loop holes, covers most of the building’s heating demand and half of its cooling needs.
A triple-glazed curtain wall exterior envelope eliminates the need for perimeter heat and reduces thermal load, while dual 16-foot energy recovery wheels recover 80% of the energy from the exhaust air.
During construction, the project team prioritized sustainable practices through waste diversion, low-emission materials and regional sourcing.
