Morgan State University in Baltimore is one of the most prominent historically Black institutions of higher education in the United States and the largest in Maryland. Established in 1867, it offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. In 2016, the university was recognized as a “National Treasure” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Its campus uniquely blends a historic neoclassical academic quadrangle with contemporary architectural elements in its public spaces.
Teepole Architects, alongside GWWO Architects, was commissioned to design a new Student Services Center. Their goal was to create a building that bridges the historic academic plaza with the modern campus environment, while establishing an iconic and welcoming “front door” for the university community.
The Calvin and Tina Taylor Building, known as the Student Services Center, was designed to serve as a welcoming gateway for both current and prospective students. It enhances the user experience by consolidating previously scattered administrative and student services into one centralized location. As the official “facade” where students first engage with the university, the center plays a crucial role throughout their academic journey. The design reflects Morgan State University’s esteemed reputation as a leading public university and its optimistic outlook for the future. Bold, curved walls extend outward, inviting students into the vibrant campus environment.
The building’s stone cladding connects the center to the campus’s history and traditions. Considerable effort was dedicated to selecting stone that harmonizes with the Maryland fieldstones found on neighboring historic buildings, while fulfilling the university’s desire for a modern architectural expression. After extensive material evaluation, the architects selected a distinctive dark Eramosa limestone from a quarry in Ontario, just a three-hour drive from Teepole Architects’ office. Complementing this, prismatic metal cladding introduces subtle variations in rich bronze and orange tones that shift with the weather, viewing angle, and time of day.
The campus’s academic quadrangle and public spaces sit a full floor above the surrounding neighborhood. To address this elevation difference, the architects designed two main entrances: one at street level and another at the campus level, which is a floor higher than the community. The street-level entrance features a spacious lobby that invites students and visitors to ascend via large indoor or outdoor steps to reach the campus public space. Additionally, parts of the building are embedded into the hillside, allowing for terraced rain gardens and extensive vegetation that support Baltimore’s strict stormwater management policies.
Inside, the Student Services Center functions as a reception hub for various academic departments. It includes flexible, multi-level lounge service desks, ample seating, and collaborative spaces. A grand staircase with gently curved landings and continuous wooden arches connects the three-story public lobby and lounge areas. This staircase leads to departmental offices and culminates in a large student service desk, serving as a focal point.
On the third floor, a spacious landscaped terrace planted with tall grasses and native pollinator species—including Maryland’s state flower, the Black-Eyed Susan—provides a gathering place for small events. This terrace offers sweeping views of the academic quadrangle and the historic Holmes Building at its center.
Overall, the Student Services Center proudly honors the university’s rich history while embracing a forward-looking vision for Morgan State University’s future.
Project Drawings
△ Base schematic diagram
△ Location analysis chart
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Third floor plan
△ Fourth floor plan
△ Fifth floor plan
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Section diagram
Project Information
Architectural Design: Teepole Architects
Area: Approximately 13,162 square meters
Project Year: 2020
Photographer: Nic Lehoux
Manufacturers: YKK AP, Eomac, Owen Sound Ledgerock, Roman Mosaic & Tile Company, Vanceva, Zephyr Aluminum
Electrical Engineer: WFT Engineering
Engineering Management: Barton Malow
Civil Engineer: Carroll Engineering
Mechanical Engineer: Mueller Associates
Structural Engineer: ReStl Designers Inc
LEED Consultant: Sustainable Design Consulting
Landscape Architect: Flora Teeter
Transportation Design: Symmetra Design
Acoustic Design: Acoustic Design Collaborative
Lighting Design: MCLA
Budget Consultant: Forella Group
General Contractor: Barton Malow
Location: Baltimore, USA
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