UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst Design Building
Mock up of UMass' new Design Building
The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s leadership in training and research in 3D building design, digital fabrication and the sustainable built environment, will expand thanks to an in-kind gift from Trimble.
Trimble, a manufacturer of laser products, UAVs, navigation systems and software processing tools, will provide a host of technologies for the university’s Design Building. Within this new facility will be the 1,300-square-foot Trimble Technology Lab which will serve the University’s Building and Construction Technology Program in the College of Natural Sciences. The lab will possess Trimble’s laser scanners, advanced robotic surveying systems, imaging rovers, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and many of Trimble’s software packages including RealWorks scanning software, Trimble Business Center and its popular 3D modelling software SketchUp Pro.
Partnering with Trimble allows UMass Amherst to more fully integrate across its curricula the technological tools that are transforming how building and living environments are designed and constructed.
“This relationship highlights Trimble as a forward-thinking company, and I commend it for its very strong commitment to education, research and public service,” said Steve Goodwin, dean, College of Natural Sciences. “The possibilities of the Trimble Technology Lab are limitless. As many more students and faculty across campus have access to these technologies, UMass Amherst will broaden our applications of surveying, 3D building modelling, performance analysis, and digital fabrication in new and exciting ways.”
Potential applications of these technologies include scanning of historic buildings to ensure their preservation, the design and 3D printing of architectural building models, the digital fabrication of custom-lab equipment, coastal erosion monitoring, and improvements in construction cost-estimating and scheduling to reduce costs.
“We are extremely excited by our new relationship with UMass,” said Roz Buick, Trimble Vice President. “Trimble’s broad portfolio is highly relevant for students at this university. The next generation of architecture, engineering, construction and operations professionals will be able to experience the breadth and depth of our construction lifecycle solutions. We also look forward to supporting and learning from these new professionals as they experience and apply our solutions to real-world applications in their curricula.”
Trimble’s gift to UMass was part of a successful fundraising campaign totalling over $300 million. The Trimble Technology Lab will benefit four departments across three colleges. It will tie into an existing ‘makerspace’ on campus to encourage experimentation, rapid prototyping, entrepreneurship and fabrication spaces.
