Facilities Campus Construction Information and Timelines

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In 2024, two major construction projects on campus continue to move forward. 

The Climate Action Plan—the decarbonization of the campus energy system—is a critical infrastructure project that will take place over the next decade and require most campus buildings to be retrofitted. Construction began in 2023 to transition the campus’s heating and cooling systems from steam to a modern low-temperature hot water geothermal system. Learn more about how this system works. 

The new Student Center & Dining Commons, a new central hub for campus life at Amherst, also began construction in 2023. Major demolition of the old Merrill structure is now complete.

Construction updates and notices for the Climate Action Plan (CAP) will be added to this page. Please check back often for new developments. The campus community will also be notified of construction updates through the Daily Mammoth.

See an archive of previous CAP work and construction maps on our CAP Timeline Archive.

March 18–June 2, 2024

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Map Key:  Fixed fence (blue shaded areas); Maintain pedestrian access at all times (red lines)

See a larger version of the map

FENCING

Locations for construction fencing (see map for more details):

• Merrill/New Student Center
• King/Wieland Quad
• Mockup Farm behind Merrill Apartments
• West of College Row and around Octagon

ROADS AND PARKING

• Parking west of Johnson Chapel and along Johnson Hill Road will remain closed.
• Construction vehicles will be using Johnson Hill Road, Quadrangle Drive, Barrett Hill Road, East Drive, and Merrill Science Drive.

BUILDINGS

• Octagon will be closed from February 1 - August 16, 2024.
• Other buildings that will experience disruptions due to CAP work: 
  • Mead Art Museum
  • Stirn Auditorium
  • Charles Pratt Hall
  • Seeley G. Mudd Building
  • Webster Hall
  • Appleton Hall
  • South Hall
  • Johnson Chapel
  • North Hall
  • Williston Hall
  • Frost Library

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS

• The sidewalk connection immediately west of College Row will be maintained.
• The sidewalk from Kirby Theater to the top of Johnson Hill will continue to Quadrangle Drive via Johnson Hill Road.

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June 3–August 16, 2024

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Map Key: Fixed fence (blue shaded areas); Maintain pedestrian access at all times (red lines); Quadrangle Road closed (red box)

See a larger version of the map

FENCING

• Locations for construction fencing (see map for more details)
  • Merrill/New Student Center
  • King/Wieland Quad
  • Mockup Farm behind Merrill Apartments
  • West of College Row and around Octagon
  • West of Frost Library
  • South of Main Quadrangle/north of Webster Hall and War Memorial
  • North of Seeley Mudd and south of Stearns (Charles Pratt Hall offline)

ROADS AND PARKING

• Quadrangle Drive will be closed west of the Main Quadrangle.
• Access to the Main Quadrangle will be via Barrett Hill Road to the east
• Parking west of Johnson Chapel and along Johnson Hill Road will be closed
• Parking in front of Seeley Mudd will be closed.
• Construction vehicles will be using Johnson Hill Road, Quadrangle Drive, Barrett Hill Road, East Drive, and Merrill Science Drive

BUILDINGS

• Octagon will be closed from February 1 - August 16, 2024.
• Buildings closed from June 3 - August 16, 2024:
  • Stirn Auditorium
  • Charles Pratt Hall
  • Appleton Hall
  • South Hall
  • North Hall
  • Williston Hall
• Other buildings that will experience disruptions due to CAP work:
  • Mead Art Museum
  • Seeley G. Mudd Building: North entrance closed June 3 - August 4
  • Webster Hall
  • Johnson Chapel
  • Frost Library

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS

• An accessible route from Webster Hall north to the Main Quadrangle will be maintained throughout construction
• Access to Seeley Mudd from the west and south only
• A non-accessible route will be available from the Greenway stairs to Stearns Hall via the Mead Art courtyard
• The sidewalk from Kirby Theater to the top of Johnson Hill will continue to Quadrangle Drive via Johnson Hill Road