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University Crossing grand opening a grand slam

Alex Gentile

Connector Editor

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, dignitaries from the UMass University system, local icons, facilities personnel, faculty and students came together for the grand opening of University Crossing, with a lavish ribbon cutting ceremony.

The event began with an opening reception. Patrons mingled among themselves with food, drink and jazz music from two student players, many marveling at the new construction. “This facility is phenomenal, and UMass Lowell has a lot to be proud of,” said Geoff Combs, director of the Campus Center at UMass Boston.

Amy Liss, associate director of Student Activities and Leadership, was excited for the possibilities for student engagement. “It is so exciting, so many people have worked for a long time to make this facility available for student engagement and student life in one place where students can have a comprehensive experience,” she said.

According to Liss, University Crossing has been in the works for many years. “I know the last couple of years people have been planning the actual space, but for many, many moons people have known this is an important component to add to our campus.”

The most striking feature of the lobby is the wooden modern installation hanging over the staircase. David Damon, one of the architects from Perkins+Will, the company tasked with designing University Crossing, considers the installation a way of bringing the old and new together.

“The unifying element architecturally is this lantern. Lowell has a history of the mills and textiles, so this is a representation of textiles and looms,” Damon said.

Damon also made a nod to further developments for the University. “Right now we’re working on a renewal of Perry Hall, and we recently completed the master plan for South Campus which is a long-term build-out,” he said.

Sallyann Thomas, one of the interior designers for the project, commented that collaboration was a central concern in the design. “The general interior design was trying to make the space as open as possible so students can collaborate,” she said.

Thomas continued on the openness of the concept. “The reason it’s so open and glassy was to foster that kind of collaborative environment,” she said.

Once the opening reception ended, the UMass Lowell Gospel Choir came together to sing two soulful numbers, eliciting audience participation through call-and-response and clapping. One of the choruses echoed an important theme of the event: “You’re deserving of more.”

The UMass Lowell Marching Band then debuted the new River Hawks fight song, “River Hawk Pride” penned by Dan Lutz, director of university bands and Deb Huber, associate director of university bands.

UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan then took the stage to put the opening of University Crossing in the context of the university’s rapid expansion within the past five years. “This change, this project, is the biggest,” he said.

Meehan suggested that the $95 million development is an integral part of a larger mission “that will enhance student life, increase efficiency and propel us further in our strategic plan to achieve excellence in everything we do.”

After making a nod toward the new Division One status of UMass Lowell’s sports teams, Meehan introduced Student Trustee Phil Geoffroy and Student Government Association President Amanda Robinson, who championed the recent smoking ban and “Share the Air” initiative.

Geoffroy stressed the call for leadership in a rapidly-changing world and that University Crossing is a facility designed to give students the opportunity to answer. “As a home to more than two hundred student organizations and a center for student engagement, this building will serve the vital function of promoting active citizenship and instilling the tenants of leadership in our student body,” he said.

Robinson then took the stage. Robinson cited that University Crossing, amid all other developments, is special because “it is the single building that is offered to each and every student.”

Before the speeches began, Robinson expressed that University Crossing also would address what has been considered a major downfall to the sprawling layout of the University. “I think it’s going to connect the two campuses which historically has been UMass Lowell’s biggest issue,” she said.

After Robinson, the Chancellor introduced a long list of dignitaries who provided integral efforts to the establishment of University Crossing. Lowell City Manager Kevin Murphy, Board of Trustees Chairman Henry Thomas, University President Robert Caret, UMass Building Authority Chairman Phillip Johnston, Senator Eileen Donoghue and Representative of the 16 Middlesex District Thomas Golden all took the stage.

In her speech, Senator Eileen Donoghue echoed the chorus of the Gospel Choir, addressing students and eliciting a grand response from the audience. “You need to have at least as best as private universities,” she said, “but let me go a step further. We should have better facilities than private universities.”

Afterwards, all the speakers came together at the foot of the staircase and, with the symbolic oversized pair of scissors, Meehan cut the ribbon and a flood of blue and white balloons fell from the ceiling, punctuating the event.

Balloons popped, hands shook and goodwill was had throughout.

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