University of Maryland Baltimore

After preparing the master plan for the research park of the Maryland's public health sciences and law campus, Ayers/Saint/Gross was architect of record for its first building. The Life Sciences Research Park is on the western edge of the main campus in downtown Baltimore and is intended to stabilize and stimulate the urban environment. It also will increase the number of wet laboratories in the regional market in order to expand the research capabilities of the University and private firms.

Building I will have flexible office and lab space for lease, with University research and technology departments expected to occupy the lower of the six floors. Mechanical, electrical, and communications systems are designed with a variety of potential tenants in mind.

The design intent is to incorporate a traditional exterior at street level, a middle office section, and a building “top” integrating the top floor and roof cornice. These ideals, plus implementation of typical campus streetscapes consistent with the master plan, will reinforce the connection to the University. Its architecture incorporates elements of the University's Facilities Master Plan while responding to the scale and massing of the surrounding residential buildings.

The building will be among the first LEED-certified model projects for development of a sustainability rating system for “core and shell” buildings by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Ayers/Saint/Gross is the executive architect in association with Ueland Junker McCauley & Nicholson.

Completion: December 2003
Size: 128,000 gsf
Cost: $15.2 million