Moody Nolan has released design renderings for a new Science and Research Complex at Morgan State University in Baltimore. The forthcoming, eight-story, 246,000-square-foot college building will be fitted head to toe with advanced technologies for conducting scientific research.
While Moody Nolan is the architect of record, Cannon Design and K. Dixon Architecture are listed as associate architects on the project. Churchill Banks III, a Morgan State University alumnus, is part of Moody Nolan’s design team. The firm, with offices across the United States, emphasizes that the new $342 million building is paramount to Morgan State attaining R1 Carnegie classification, a status that would open up the institution to federal funding and research grants.
The new building will primarily serve as home to Morgan State University’s School of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (SCMNS) dean’s office and the biology and chemistry programs. It will also feature house labs, tutoring centers, and collaboration/ideation spaces.
Renderings of the facility show a facade with ample glass components on an otherwise hulking structure. The massing is broken up by curved volumes of glazing. Greenspace was added to the building in several locations, namely at its rooftop which serves as a sprawling terrace above an extended portion of the building.
“We are thrilled to partner with Morgan State University to champion its vision for a cutting-edge complex that will define the future of scientific research and education,” said Renauld Deandre Mitchell, a partner at Moody Nolan. “Our design reflects a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and sustainability, creating a space that will not only facilitate groundbreaking discoveries but also inspire the next generation of scientists and researchers. We are honored to be part of this transformative project, which seamlessly aligns with the university’s dedication to excellence and progress in the realm of academia.”
Founded in 1867, Morgan State University is a Historically Black College (HBCU). To date, it’s considered as Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University. Upon completion, the Science and Research Complex will sit next to a new stadium at Morgan State University, E. Cold Spring Lane and Stadium Way, across from the current Richard N. Dixon Science Research Center.
Moody Nolan, the largest owned and operated African American architecture firm in the country, seeks to achieve LEED Gold certification in their design by the U.S. Green Building Council. To attain this ranking, the architects employed sustainable features like a green roof and gray water reclamation system that will help reduce Morgan State’s environmental footprint.
Construction at Morgan State University will begin in spring 2024. The project is set for completion in 2027.
