New four-story classroom building going up on UMass campus

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - UMass Amherst is building new classroom space, and many students say it's a much-needed upgrade.

The new, four-story building will be the new home of the communications, film, and journalism departments. It will have 2,000 classroom seats and a television studio. The building is slated to open by the spring of 2014.

Currently, students take communication and film classes at Bartlett Hall, and they told 22News that the changes are welcome.

“I think it's awesome that they are working on something, especially communications, because it's my major,” UMass student Luke Oconor said.

“There's just not enough room. It's going to house departments that have been pretty much put in a corner: ‘Oh, journalism, have this side of Bartlett, it's got a bathroom and a janitor's closet, that's fine,’” UMass senior Kenneth Sena said.

UMass President Robert Caret attended Friday’s launch on the Amherst Campus.

The $95 million academic classroom building will be located north of the Campus Pond on North Pleasant Street. The project is being partially paid for by a state bond bill.