ORCHARD HILL
PAVILLION
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Project Architect:
Sigrid Miller Pollin FAIA
General Contractor:
Suffolk Construction
Photos:
Robert Benson Photography
Orchard Hill Pavilion is sited in a park-like setting at the eastern edge of the UMass Amherst campus. The pavilion, which opened in May 2026, will provide a covered but open space for a wide range of scheduled events such as small concerts, weddings, and conferences. It will also serve as a place for casual opportunities to enjoy beautiful distant views of the hilly terrain beyond the campus.
The pavilion’s materials-white cast-n-place concrete, light steel framing and colored glass create a lyrical architectural compliment to the variety of vegetation and topography of this landscape.
A sloping retaining wall anchors support facilities in the landscape while cradling a level area for the pavilion structure. Architecturally, a traditional gable form sheathed in channel glass morphs into a gently sloping pitched roof that terminates in a trellised terrace. Wide granite steps that can double as a small amphitheater cascade from the pavilion floor to a northern patio. A variety of trees, shrubs and perennials will populate the multiple terraced green areas intended for the outdoor enjoyment of campus and community.
.