Image courtesy of Newmark

The University of Massachusetts Building Authority has selected a Pennsylvania multifamily developer to redevelop a 10-acre section of the UMass Lowell East campus.

GHM Communities plans to build a new research building to attract local startups, along with new student housing to replace existing residence halls, the authority announced.

The authority sought proposals from developers in February to redevelop the parking lots next to the Tsongas Center arena and the city-owned LeLacheur Park stadium for a “vibrant, active urban district.” One of the goals of the project is to expand partnerships with local industry in the STEM sector.

Preliminary discussions with GMH Communities also have included plans for first-floor retail and an East Campus “Main Street and plaza,” the school announced today.

The redevelopment site includes five parcels, two of which are located in federal Opportunity Zones.

UMass officials did not provide details on the other proposals, beyond a statement that they included “multiple proposals from nationally acclaimed developers.”

Newtown, Pennsylvania-based GMH Communities has invested in more than 300 properties since its founding in 1985, representing $8.5 billion in asset value, including more than 90,000 student housing beds.