Eleven East Pleasant

Eleven East Pleasant emerges as a pivotal piece of urban infill, strategically bridging the vibrant energy of downtown Amherst with the academic heart of the University of Massachusetts campus. Located adjacent to Kendrick Park, this five-story, 75,000-square-foot student housing project addresses a critical need for thoughtfully designed residential space while simultaneously enriching the urban fabric, adding 30 studio, 36 one-bedroom, and 24 two-bedroom apartments to the town's housing stock.

The project’s site, a triangular block nestled amongst existing commercial buildings and the client Archipelago Investments’ prior developments, presented a unique opportunity for contextual integration. Eleven East Pleasant acts as a crucial enclosure, completing the U-shaped courtyard defined by One East Pleasant next door, fostering a sense of community and shared space.

A defining architectural gesture is the “Rift,” a carefully articulated passageway that bisects the ground floor. This element, oriented towards the courtyard at One East Pleasant, serves as the primary tenant lobby access while establishing distinct vehicular and pedestrian arrival points from the north and south, respectively. The Rift's strategic placement anticipates and encourages future development to the north, establishing a connective tissue within the evolving urban landscape.

The Rift's spatial concept extends vertically, manifesting as a visual break in the south and north elevations. This manipulation of massing effectively transforms the western portion of the building into a more robust, cube-like form, aligning with the dense, urban frontage along East Pleasant Street. This urban sensibility is further accentuated by the project’s extensive glazing, which floods living spaces with natural light, fostering a connection between residents and the surrounding environment.

Another notable feature of Eleven East Pleasant is its layered facade. A robust base of brick and concrete supports a delicate, draped wood rainscreen that envelops the upper floors. The rainscreen, with edges that echo the Rift's geometry, creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. The fenestration, integrated seamlessly with the rainscreen, challenges the traditional stacked program of multi-family housing, instead expressing a horizontally layered composition that emphasizes texture and depth.

The project’s construction utilizes a wood-framed structure for the residential units, resting upon a concrete podium encompassing retail spaces, lobby/leasing areas, parking, and mechanical spaces. This hybrid approach allows for a balance of efficiency and durability. The landscape design complements the building’s architectural language. Tall, slender trees strategically placed along the south facade, at 15-foot intervals, provide vertical counterpoints to the horizontal layering of the building. Corner units feature expansive glazing, offering panoramic views northwest towards the campus, fostering a connection with the broader community.