Topping Out Ceremony at Amherst College Student Center & Dining Commons

AMHERST, USA – The new Student Center & Dining Commons at Amherst College has reached its topping out, a key milestone in the project’s development. The ceremony consisted of two parts: the signing event, where students, faculty, and project contributors signed on the final timber panel, and the lifting and installation of the last beam.

Strategically located to connect Amherst’s upper and lower campuses, the Student Center & Dining Commons is designed to enhance the student experience by providing diverse spaces.

Reflecting Amherst College’s commitment to sustainability, the project repurposes the concrete structure of the former Merrill Science Center and incorporates mass-timber construction. This approach reduces material waste and preserves embodied carbon, which aligns with the college’s climate action plan.

Scheduled to open in 2026, the Student Center & Dining Commons will become a central hub for the Amherst community.

Video courtesy of Amherst College.