UMass Lowell yesterday officially opened its $95-million student-engagement center.

The student-engagement center at University Crossing links UMass Lowell’s South, North and East campuses with the city’s downtown business district and cultural attractions. According to a press release, "for UMass Lowell students, the center brings together for the first time under one roof all the services they need to complement their classroom experience."

The four-story center is a sustainable and contemporary design with a glass front and views of the Merrimack River. It is the 10th building opened in five years by UMass Lowell, which has aggressively grown its academic and research facilities and student residence halls to accommodate nearly a 50 percent increase in enrollment over the last seven years.

More than 200 people officially opened the center during an event in the lobby at the foot of a large latticework installation that hangs from the ceiling. Known as "The Lantern," the structure is a dramatic series of wooden panels that helps to reflect light into the building and dampen sound.

"This world-class student center at University Crossing stands at the heart of UMass Lowell’s unprecedented transformation by providing centralized access to critical student resources. It also provides a space for our students and the public to come together to collaborate, learn and engage in issues important to the campus and community," UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan said in a statement. "We will make this building a dynamic resource for current and future generations of students and neighbors."