Opinion: A Better Alternative To A “Workers’ Pavillion”

The wisdom of building the proposed “Workers Pavillion” at UMass as a way to honor front line employees has been flawed from the start, so it was surprising to learn the project has legs after vigorous protests by the public.  First, there is the illogical act of paving over and building on a beautiful natural space so that people can come to relax and contemplate nature.  Then there is the condescending nature of the project.  How many UMass employees are really going to take advantage of – let alone be grateful for – a ‘memorial’ to them, stuck in a corner of the campus?  After a day of cleaning a dorm or washing dishes in the dining commons, will workers really walk several minutes to go meditate?  If you have ever worked a blue-collar job (as I have, more than once), I’d ask: how many of your co-workers would be excited by such a project?  How many would regard it as a ridiculous, insulting gesture?  Did the anonymous donor for this ever canvas blue collar workers to see what would actually make them feel honored or even respected?

UMass prides itself in how its reputation has risen in the last couple decades.  It has been innovative in its campus renovations.  Unfortunately, it has not done enough to house its increasing enrolment.  

One way to use the donation for a workers’ pavilion, and allow the architect to engage in a vanity project that would be inspirational and actually useful:  Instead of a workers’ pavilion, build an arcology dedicated to UMass employees to house students. For those unfamiliar with the term, try searching Wikipedia.  In short, arcologies seek to densify building occupancy while using organic forms, and pleasing, ecologically friendly design and building techniques in order to efficiently house occupants while leaving open and natural as much surrounding land as possible.  This certainly makes more sense than having unhoused students sprawling into expensive, poorly regulated housing throughout town. 

While the $7M bequest for this project would not cover the entire cost of a modest-sized arcology, it could at least serve as seed money.  And UMass, the architect, and the donor would truly make national headlines in a positive way.  

John Varner is a resident of District 3