Design unveiled for the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy building

The University of Maryland has a new landmark architectural presence in its new School of Public Policy building.

The building’s design concept is rooted in the spatial typology of the ancient Agora, the birthplace of democratic thought and public discourse. The cascading architectural form follows the natural slope of Chapel Field to form an edge to one of the signature open spaces on campus and shape a carefully orchestrated sequence of interior spaces.

School of public Policy exterior

Entrances on the east and west sides connect to a large, communal atrium designed to encourage chance meetings, informal study, and interdepartmental collaboration. On the building’s east side is Do Good Plaza, a shared outdoor event space that establishes a new gateway into campus. Brick cladding and white columns connect visually with Lee Hall to the north while the building’s sculpted massing frames Rossborough Inn to the northeast and memorial Chapel to the southwest.

School of Public Policy interior on the University of Maryland campus

The four-story building brings together the School’s more than 90 faculty members and over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students and serves as the headquarters for the Do Good Institute, a campus-wide hub for social innovation, philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership. The facility will also include five instructional spaces ranging in size from 25 to 150 seats, a library, and a rooftop terrace.

The School of Public Policy is expected to achieve LEED Gold rating with biophilic design elements that will connect occupants to nature, reduce the building’s environmental footprint, and provide healthy and productive spaces for work and study.

In September 2021, Penn reopened its renovated and expanded library as an open center for cross-disciplinary learning, prototyping, and collaboration. Now called Biotech Commons, the 17,000-sf building supports new modes of research by offering a range of spaces and services that is free to be scheduled by any student or faculty member.

University Buildings | Feb 17, 2022

A vacated school in St. Louis is turned into a center where suppliers exchange ideas

In 1871, The Carondelet School, designed by Frederick William Raeder, opened to educate more than 400 children of laborers and manufacturers in St. Louis. The building is getting a second lease on life, as it has undergone a $2 million renovation by goBRANDgo!, a marketing firm for the manufacturing and industrial sectors.

University Buildings | Feb 15, 2022

Ohio University's Chilled Water Plant #3 brings high design to a campus utility

Leers Weinzapfel Associates has also designed chiller plants on the campuses of Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Tufts University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Harvard University’s Allston Campus, and the Ohio State University.

University Buildings | Feb 14, 2022

Leers Weinzapfel Associates to renovate, expand the Williams College Davis Center

The project will add almost 8,000 sf of space.

Advances and Challenges in Improving Indoor Air Quality HorizonTV

Coronavirus | Jan 20, 2022

Advances and challenges in improving indoor air quality in commercial buildings

Michael Dreidger, CEO of IAQ tech startup Airsset speaks with BD+C's John Caulfield about how building owners and property managers can improve their buildings' air quality.

Rendering of new housing at Eastern Michigan University

University Buildings | Jan 19, 2022

Eastern Michigan University launches major student housing project

The institution is working with Gilbane Development Company to build or renovate more than 2,700 on-campus beds.

University of Maryland bredan iribe center cafe

University Buildings | Jan 11, 2022

Designing for health sciences education: supporting student well-being

While student and faculty health and well-being should be a top priority in all spaces within educational facilities, this article will highlight some key considerations.