Sustainable University Building to Serve Student Social Workers

By Fay Harvey

BALTIMORE, Md.— Community members and project leaders came together on Oct. 17 to break ground on the new University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) School of Social Work. The 127,000-square-foot building will support programs that address the growing demand for social workers across the country while promoting cross-campus collaboration, environmentalism, and accessibility.  

In line with the University’s sustainability goals, the $120 million building will aim to achieve LEED Gold certification (and aspire for LEED Platinum certification) by implementing biophilic elements, including a rooftop garden and stormwater management systems, alongside green roofs, solar photovoltaic panels and geothermal heating and cooling. The building will be the first LEED-certified net-zero emissions building in downtown Baltimore. The building is configured to use 65% less energy than a traditional building of its size and zero operational fossil fuels, according to a statement. 

The six-story structure will act as a new northern gateway into campus. Innovative classrooms will support not only in-person teaching but are flexible enough to convert to spaces for collaborative research. Communal areas featuring ADA-compliant entrances and desks will be included as well as prayer and meditation rooms, lactation spaces, showers, bike racks and simulation interview rooms. A coffee lounge in the lobby will be surrounded by elevated outdoor spaces to encourage academic and social gatherings. A planned public park adjacent to the building will further enhance the connection between the University and the community. 

“I want a building that reflects our values — who we are as social workers, who we are as a profession,” said Judy L. Postmus, Ph.D., ACSW, UMSSW dean, in a statement published to UMB’s website. “I want people to look at the building and say, ‘I see the values. I experience the values. I live the values.’” 

Construction is being managed by Whiting-Turner of Baltimore, and both architecture and engineering work will be conducted by the Philadelphia-based company Ballinger. Work on the project is slated to begin in December and continue into summer 2027.  

Photo Caption: The University of Maryland, Baltimore broke ground Oct. 17 on its $120 million, six-story University of Maryland School of Social Work. Photo Credit: Ballinger