Emerson College to house UMass Boston students after East Residence Hall flooding closes dormitory
Temporary relocation follows Feb. 9 pipe burst that shut down East Residence Hall
Emerson College is set to provide campus housing for some University of Massachusetts Boston students displaced after flooding forced the closure of the East Residence Hall, the university’s largest residential building. The move is part of a longer-term stabilization plan as UMass Boston continues repairs and safety reviews following a Feb. 9 water incident that damaged dozens of rooms and disrupted housing for hundreds of students.
UMass Boston has said a burst pipe on the 10th floor triggered extensive water intrusion, affecting multiple floors and building systems. The East Residence Hall and its connected dining commons have remained closed while crews carry out remediation, restore critical systems, and complete additional inspections required before residents can return.
What happened and why the building stayed closed
UMass Boston has described the event as a failure within a fire-suppression sprinkler line, with cold weather cited as a contributing factor. Water spread beyond the initial area, moving through walls, ceilings, stairwells, and utility spaces. Early assessments identified approximately 50 rooms with varying levels of damage, along with impacts to electrical and other building infrastructure that required further evaluation.
Following the closure, the university implemented temporary options that included hotel rooms and placements at other UMass facilities in the region while determining which residents could return and when.
Emerson housing plan: who moves, where, and for how long
The relocation agreement focuses on students whose rooms sustained direct water damage and who are not expected to return to the East Residence Hall this semester. UMass Boston has indicated those students are scheduled to move into Emerson housing on Sunday and remain there through the spring semester.
Most of the relocated students are expected to live in the Little Building, a residence hall located at 80 Boylston Street in Boston. UMass Boston residential life staff are expected to maintain an on-site support presence for affected students during the relocation period.
Move-in timing: Sunday following the Feb. 20 announcement
Intended duration: through the spring semester
Primary site: Little Building residence hall in downtown Boston
Phased return for other residents and ongoing student needs
UMass Boston has outlined a phased re-occupancy approach for residents in rooms not directly affected by water, contingent on completion of remaining safety requirements and formal approvals. The university has also directed students in impacted rooms to document damaged property and review applicable insurance coverage, while offering support services such as laundry assistance.
UMass Boston has said additional timelines for re-occupancy will be provided once remaining safety requirements are completed and formally approved.
The situation continues to test campus housing capacity and student support systems during the academic term, with displaced residents balancing coursework, transportation logistics, and uncertainty around full restoration of the East Residence Hall.