Engineering Laboratory II (ELab II) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst was delivered by Fontaine Bros. as general contractor for the Massachusetts Department of Capital Asset Management (DCAM), with Ellenzweig (Boston) serving as the architect. The project was managed under an intensive, lab-driven construction program that required a high level of coordination between structural, mechanical, and architectural systems to support advanced engineering research and instruction.
The building was executed as a highly technical laboratory facility, designed to house chemical engineering and civil and environmental engineering programs within approximately 57,000 square feet of research, teaching, and support space. Construction focused on delivering tightly controlled lab environments, including infrastructure for fume hood systems, vibration-sensitive research areas, and high-capacity mechanical and utility distribution networks essential to modern laboratory operations.
Fontaine Bros. led the full construction effort, managing complex sequencing, dense MEP coordination, and the integration of specialized lab systems within a fast-moving academic campus environment. The work required precise execution of the building’s structural and enclosure systems to support long-term performance, flexibility, and adaptability for evolving research needs.
Project management oversight ensured close coordination with the design team and DCAM throughout construction, maintaining alignment on scope, schedule, and technical requirements in a facility where infrastructure quality was critical to functionality. ELab II ultimately delivered a durable, high-performance academic laboratory environment supporting a wide range of research initiatives in engineering and applied sciences.
Client: University of Massachusetts Amherst/ Massachusetts Department of Capital Asset Management (DCAM)
