CASITA DE VIDA
UMASS DESIGNBUILD 2025
W/ GREATER SPRINGFIELD HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
The UMass DesignBuild Program is a year-long collaboration between Architecture and Building & Construction Technology students that transforms the design studio into a full-scale construction site. In partnership with Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity and the Holyoke Housing Authority, the 2025 project focused on the design and construction of “Casita de Vida”, a high-performance affordable home for a family in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Unlike a conventional academic project, every decision carried real consequences, from budget and constructability to energy performance and long-term livability.
Beginning with client meetings and schematic design in the spring and continuing through twelve weeks of construction in the summer, the project offered a rare opportunity to participate in the complete lifecycle of a building. Construction documents became framing layouts, digital models became physical assemblies, and details developed in studio were tested, refined, and built by hand. The experience bridged the gap between drawing and making, reinforcing the idea that architecture is not simply about designing buildings, but understanding how they come together and ultimately serve the people who call them home.
Project Team
Ava Rhodes
Anna Bobbit
Bianca Saliba de Assis
Brody Parrott
Caroline Doyle
David Perevela
Eren Erden
Ivy Ackerman
Jacob Agoglia
Krashang Giri Goswami
Lily Stevens
Marvelous Akande
Natalie Simarowski
Omer Mian
Samuel Hochberger
Yukiho Yoshida
Studio Advisor
Site Supervisor
Ben Leinfelder
Structural Engineer
