October 2024

University of Maryland, Baltimore Breaks Ground on $120 Million Net-Zero Emissions School of Social Work Building

October 17, 2024   |   Charles Schelle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BALTIMORE, Md. — The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) broke ground Thursday, Oct. 17, on its new $120 million, six-story University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) building that is slated to be the first net-zero emissions building within the University System of Maryland and downtown Baltimore.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore broke ground Oct. 17 on its $120 million, six-story University of Maryland School of Social Work building at 600 W. Lexington St. (Rendering courtesy of Ballinger)

The building will consolidate the School’s Master of Social Work and Doctor of Philosophy programs — currently dispersed across three locations — into a modern, flexible space located at 600 W. Lexington St, within walking distance of light rail and subway stations. Following the October groundbreaking, construction is slated to start in December and continue until the building’s opening in late summer 2027.

The facility is designed to enhance collaboration among students and faculty and serve as a bridge between UMB and the surrounding community. It features cutting-edge classrooms, research spaces, a coffee lounge, bike lockers and showers, plus communal gathering areas, all within a framework that prioritizes equity, accessibility and sustainability.

“The new University of Maryland School of Social Work building will be more than just a place to develop the next generation of social workers, leaders, and scholars — it will be a vibrant community hub where students, faculty, and local partners come together,” UMSSW Dean Judy Postmus, PhD, ACSW, said. “I am enthusiastic that these adaptable spaces embrace social work’s core values of social justice, the importance of human relationships and service to the community, by going above and beyond in areas of sustainability and accessibility. Thank you to our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members for helping shape this building.”

The 127,000-square-foot building will lead a new wave of activity and construction over the next several years on the northern edge of UMB’s campus along West Lexington Street, where the university is working with private developers to convert spaces into housing, stores, and research space. UMB will do so by being a leader in sustainable design for the UMSSW building, with its aim to achieve LEED Gold certification and aspiring for LEED Platinum certification — the highest level awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. Additionally, the project is tracking to earn LEED Net Zero Energy certification through its innovative use of geothermal exchange wells, on-site solar panels, and a usable outdoor roof garden. The building is configured to use 65 percent less energy than a traditional building of its size and zero operational fossil fuels.

“I am proud that the new University of Maryland School of Social Work building will bring more energy to the northern edge of our campus, fostering innovation, collaboration, and community engagement,” UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, said. “The new School of Social Work building also reflects UMB’s deep commitment to our core values of Well-Being and Sustainability. From its green roof and geothermal wells to its net-zero energy design that will power learning and gathering spaces, this building exemplifies our mission to reduce UMB’s environmental impact while enhancing our campus and our connection to the surrounding community.”

Key Features of the New UMSSW Building

• Flexibility and Functionality: The building will house innovative classrooms designed to support various teaching modalities. Flexible spaces allow for easy transitions between academic and research functions, adapting to evolving needs in social work education.
• Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship: The building is designed to achieve net-zero energy with features like a green roof, solar photovoltaic panels, and geothermal heating and cooling. Biophilic elements, including a rooftop garden and stormwater management systems, reinforce the university’s commitment to environmental justice.
• Welcoming and Inclusive Spaces: Warm and accessible design is at the heart of the project. The building will include communal areas for students and faculty, multiple entrances for accessibility, and ADA-compliant adjustable desks. It also features specialized spaces like simulation interview rooms, a prayer and meditation room with a foot washing space, a lactation space, and even showers and bike racks for eco-conscious commuters.
• Vibrant Community Interaction: The building is designed to foster interaction both within the university and with the broader community. A coffee lounge in the lobby and elevated outdoor spaces provide opportunities for casual gatherings and collaborative events, making the building a central hub for both academic life and community and civic engagement.
• Enhanced Campus Connectivity: The location will serve as a new northern gateway to UMB’s campus, encouraging more interaction linking Lexington Market and the Maryland Department of Health and Human Services building. A planned public park, adjacent to the building, will further enhance the connection between the university and the community.

Follow updates and progress on the New School of Social Work Building Project Website. Be a changemaker and pursue your bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. in social work through the University of Maryland School of Social Work by applying today.

NOTE TO EDITORS/REPORTERS: Video, building renderings, stills and additional information are available at this link.

About the University of Maryland School of Social Work

The University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) is one of six University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools and an interdisciplinary School of Graduate Studies dedicated to improving the human condition and serving the public good of Maryland and beyond. Nationally recognized by U.S. News and World Report, UMSSW is one of the largest and most respected schools of social work in the country. UMSSW educates the majority of social workers in Maryland with over 80 full-time faculty members and a strong focus on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion principles. In addition to the school’s academic side, UMSSW excels in translating research to practice through partnerships with state and local government agencies and organizations. The School’s Center for Restorative Change, Promise Heights, Family Connections, and The Institute for Innovation and Implementation are all very active in helping with the social work needs in Baltimore and beyond. 

About the University of Maryland, Baltimore

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) was founded in 1807 as the Maryland College of Medicine, which now stands as the nation’s oldest public medical school. In response to growing social and cultural needs, UMB’s mission has evolved and grown tremendously. Widely recognized as a preeminent institution, UMB serves as the academic health, law, and social work university of the University System of Maryland, and is guided by a mission of excellence in education, research, clinical care, and public service.

UMB is a thriving academic health center combining cutting-edge biomedical research, exceptional patient care, and nationally ranked academic programs. With extramural funding totaling $663 million in Fiscal Year 2023, each tenured/tenure-track faculty member generates an average of $1.5 million in research grants each year. More than 3,100 faculty members conduct leading-edge research and develop solutions and technologies that impact human health locally and around the world. World-class facilities and cores, as well as interprofessional centers and institutes, allow faculty to investigate pressing questions in a highly collaborative fashion. As a result, the more than 7,000 students, postdocs, and trainees directly benefit from working and learning alongside leading experts as they push the boundaries of their fields. For a listing of the organized research centers and institutes, visit: https://www.umaryland.edu/research/umb- research-profile/research-centers-and-institutions

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