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.
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.
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.
See Also: South-West Middle School welcomes its first students
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.
Related Stories
| Dec 20, 2011
Gluckman Mayner Architects releases design for Syracuse law building
The design reflects an organizational clarity and professional sophistication that anticipates the user experience of students, faculty, and visitors alike.
| Dec 19, 2011
HGA renovates Rowing Center at Cornell University
Renovation provides state-of-the-art waterfront facility.
| Dec 16, 2011
Goody Clancy-designed Informatics Building dedicated at Northern Kentucky University
The sustainable building solution, built for approximately $255-sf, features innovative materials and intelligent building systems that align with the mission of integration and collaboration.
| Dec 5, 2011
Fraser Brown MacKenna wins Green Gown Award
Working closely with staff at Queen Mary University of London, MEP Engineers Mott MacDonald, Cost Consultants Burnley Wilson Fish and main contractor Charter Construction, we developed a three-fold solution for the sustainable retrofit of the building.
| Dec 2, 2011
Goody Clancy awarded Ohio State residential project
The project, which is focused on developing a vibrant on-campus community of learning for OSU undergraduates.
| Nov 23, 2011
Griffin Electric completes Gwinnett Tech project
Accommodating up to 3,000 students annually beginning this fall, the 78,000-sf, three-story facility consists of thirteen classrooms and twelve high-tech laboratories, in addition to several lecture halls and faculty offices.
| Nov 18, 2011
Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability opens
Designed to exceed LEED Platinum, the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) is one of the most innovative and high performance buildings in North America today, demonstrating leading-edge green building design products, technologies, and systems.
| Nov 11, 2011
Streamline Design-build with BIM
How construction manager Barton Malow utilized BIM and design-build to deliver a quick turnaround for Georgia Tech’s new practice facility.
| Nov 11, 2011
AIA: Engineered Brick + Masonry for Commercial Buildings
Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and successfully completing the online exam.
