UMass Dartmouth, Amherst win modern architecture award

Oct 6, 2022

UMassBRUT, a collaborative campaign between UMass Dartmouth and UMass Amherst, has received a Docomomo US Modernism in America Inventory/Survey Award of Excellence for its efforts to raise awareness and appreciation of the significant Brutalist structures that shape much of both campuses, the universities announced.

According to Docomomo, “The UMassBRUT campaign stood out for its all-hands-on-deck approach to rallying large educational institutions around better stewardship of their modern resources. Following a two-day symposium, they have made great strides in educating and warming their community towards Brutalism.”

The sold-out symposiums provided a platform that brought together a team of scholars, industry professionals, artists, and passionate citizens interested in preserving mid to late-twentieth-century architecture. The multidisciplinary campaign was led by a group of faculty, students, staff, and administrators on both campuses.

The architecture at UMass Dartmouth is a result of famed 1950s and 60s architect Paul Rudolph’s vision for an “urban” public university, coupled with progressive achievements in design and engineering, the university said.

Docomomo US (Documentation and Conservation of buildings, sites, and neighborhoods of the Modern Movement) is a non-profit organization that seeks to preserve modern architecture, landscapes, and design through principled advocacy, collaboration, and celebration.