UBalt is "Different by Design," and as such it is quite impactful in the life of the city, state and region. Unassuming, yet highly ranked for our academic prowess, career-making networks, and the social mobility of our graduates. Ideal for today's professionally oriented, working adult students. Consistently focused on the future. The phrase "modest, but mighty" applies to everything about the University.
With this in mind, we welcome you to The University of Baltimore's 2024 Facilities Master Plan. This plan—the result of more than a year of engagement with every constituency with a stake in the institution's next decade and beyond—aligns a vision for our physical campus in Midtown Baltimore with our mission, our values, and the students we serve.
Within the FMP, you'll find a lively balance between the changing demands facing higher education and the opportunities that arise from this time of transition. Every aspect of life at UBalt has been considered, with an emphasis on meeting long-term goals for the institution.
UBalt's 2024 10-Year Facilities Master Plan (FMP) was approved by the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents in November 2024. In our first year of implementation, major components of the FMP are moving forward. This update summarizes our progress.
Background: A Vital Plan for UBalt's Success in Our Distinct Mission
Throughout the next decade, the University's Facilities Master Plan will transform
and revitalize campus spaces through a strategic approach focused on replacement,
acquisition, renewal, and renovation. Full implementation of our FMP will address
key challenges and opportunities for our campus, both now and as the University continues
to evolve.
UBalt's student population is unique, with many non-traditional adult students who
require a modern, flexible campus with multi-modal, active learning and services.
The FMP aims to redevelop the campus core to enhance UBalt’s appeal and bolster support
for student success. Additionally, the plan addresses deferred maintenance and reimagines
the heart of campus, reinforcing our identity and improving the midtown Baltimore
area. The revitalized core will foster a collaborative environment for students, faculty,
and staff.
Our Plan
UBalt's Facilities Master Plan Executive Summary and the Full Plan are available via the links below.
The FMP was developed with extensive engagement from the campus, the local community,
and City of Baltimore representatives. It is supported by the USM senior staff and
the Board of Regents. Most funding for the FMP projects will be requested from the
State of Maryland through competitive capital funding processes and supplemented with
UBalt’s resources, donor support, and grant funds.
The FMP identifies seven major capital project categories that will improve the physical campus environment in midtown Baltimore as the University celebrates our Centennial in 2025 and begins our second century.
1. Academic Center Replacement and Site Improvements
2. Welcome Center
3. Energy Performance and Sustainability Upgrades
4. Facilities Renewal
a. Thumel Business Center
b. Turner Learning Commons
c. Angelos Law Center
5. Strategic Programmatic Renovations
a. Charles Royal Building
b. UBalt Student Center
c. RLB Library
d. Liberal Arts and Policy Building
6. Pedestrian Safety Improvements
7. Placemaking, Campus Branding, and Lighting
Our highest priority and the most exciting and transformative FMP project is the replacement
of the Academic Center. Located in the center of campus, the replacement facility
will anchor the campus with a modern, efficient academic building designed for UBalt’s
non-traditional students, featuring technology-rich, hybrid learning spaces for flexible
classes and collaboration. This replacement Academic Center and the accompanying site
improvements to Gordon Plaza will create a dynamic academic hub. The envisioned Academic
Center will replace the old, deteriorating, and poorly functioning existing Academic
Center, a facility with well-documented and profound deficiencies that make it unsuitable
for post-secondary education.
Included in Gov. Moore's five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in the State's Capital
Budget approved in April 2025, project funding is queued for design starting July
2028. The project calls for two years of design, followed by three years of demolition
and construction. The replacement Academic Center is expected to open in the fall
2033.
The existing Academic Center represents over 25% of campus internal space and 43% of deferred maintenance. A new, smaller facility will enable UBalt to right-size the campus and eliminate significant deferred maintenance, while enhancing the adult learning experience, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting interactions between and among students and faculty. The smaller footprint will allow for renewal and expansion of Gordon Plaza, linking key campus buildings and providing vibrant outdoor spaces with improved landscaping and places to study and gather.
The FMP proposes a UBalt Welcome Center at 101 W. Mt. Royal Ave. to create an inviting
space for prospective students, UBalt alumni, donors, and visitors. The four-story,
36,340 square-foot building sits in our core campus, adjacent to the UBalt Student
Center to the east, UBalt parking to the west, and diagonally across from Gordon Plaza
Effective September 2024, UBalt entered into a lease agreement with the option to
purchase the property. Acquisition funding is listed in Governor Moore’s five-year
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in the State’s Capital Budget approved in April 2025,
with the full acquisition funding amount queued for July 2027.
We relocated administrative offices to the new Welcome Center from the existing Academic
Center throughout the fall of 2024. Students and staff are already realizing synergies
from this co-location of our student-facing teams for admission, financial aid, registration,
and bursar. In addition, our marketing, communications, government relations, advancement,
alumni relations, donor relations, and executive offices have relocated from the Academic
Center to the Welcome Center.
Securing this strategic location in the core campus supports UBalt’s outward-facing
administrative functions. Purchasing this facility will directly reduce the required
size—and cost—of the Academic Center Replacement, resulting in lower costs to the
State, net of the acquisition, and operational benefits for the University.
Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) resulting from the State of Maryland
Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 require decarbonization of all primary existing
campus buildings except the Charles Royal Building by 2040, with interim standards
beginning in 2030. UBalt is developing plans and potential funding strategies for
adoption of BEPS, coordinating them with building systems renewal and replacement
projects where feasible.
a. Thumel Business Center
b. Turner Learning Commons
c. Angelos Law Center (limited)
The Thumel Business Center and the Turner Learning Commons account for 44 percent
of deferred maintenance, with the Academic Center adding another 43 percent, together
accounting for 87 percent of deferred maintenance. Targeted renewal projects in the
Thumel Business Center and Turner Learning Commons, alongside the replacement of the
Academic Center, will modernize systems and dramatically reduce UBalt's deferred maintenance.
We have secured State funding and scheduled a project to upgrade certain elements
of the HVAC infrastructure in the Thumel Business Center during 2026. Planned upgrades
include the building automation system, variable air volume boxes, cooling tower,
and installation of a direct outside air system for the auditorium. Recently completed
renovations in the Thumel Business Center have improved spaces in the lower level
for classrooms and class labs as well as operating space for technology support services.
In 2025, improvements were completed in the Turner Learning Commons lower level, including
space renovations and HVAC refurbishments. Additional renovations are planned for
the fourth floor in 2026 to enable relocation of fitness activities for the Baltimore
City Police Academy from the Academic Center in advance of the Academic Center replacement
project. Project funding for the fitness spaces is provided from lease revenue. Looking
ahead, CAS faculty and staff currently located in the Turner Learning Commons will
co-locate with other CAS faculty and staff in the Academic Center Replacement when
it opens in fall 2033. UBalt administrative staff will continue to occupy and anchor
the first floor of the Turner Learning Commons long term. Modifications to the existing
window wall system on the first floor are planned in conjunction with the Academic
Center replacement to enable seamless use of the lobby and Town Hall spaces in the
Turner Learning Commons as an extension of the renewed Gordon Plaza.
In March 2025, an engineering study was completed to identify options to resolve widespread,
ongoing issues with the Angelos Law Center exterior, sensor-operated motorized blind
system. UBalt has identified the preferred approach. Funding and phasing/timing for
implementation are now being evaluated.
a. Charles Royal Building
b. UBalt Student Center
c. RLB Library
d. Liberal Arts and Policy
The FMP includes relocating our Special Collections and Archives (SCA) to the Charles Royal Building for greater visibility and access. A study will soon be completed to evaluate the structural and code renovations needed.
The FMP also re-envisions the UBalt Student Center and the RLB Library as student
hubs, with the Student Center to function as an extra-curricular/co-curricular student
activity hub and the RLB Library to serve as an academic student success hub in addition
to retaining its existing library functions. In the summer and fall of 2025, staff
from UBalt's Student Success and Support Services relocated from the Academic Center
to establish the student hubs. The main floor of the Student Center has been largely
converted to a game room and social gathering space, with the campus apparel and bookstore
now online.
The Liberal Arts and Policy building is primarily used by students, faculty, and staff
of CPA and CAS. When the Academic Center replacement building opens in fall 2033,
all CPA and CAS people and programs will locate there rather than being split in multiple
buildings. The Liberal Arts and Policy building will then become available for sale
or lease, as determined by the University.
The FMP recommends street improvements to enhance pedestrian safety and strengthen
our campus identity while integrating with the surrounding community. All changes
require coordination with Baltimore City.
UBalt has been working with City officials and departments, receiving positive feedback.
Most improvements are expected to occur later in the 10-year FMP timeframe, primarily
due to approval processes and funding requirements.
Potential street improvement projects include the outcomes listed below.
Campus visioning sessions for the FMP revealed strong support for establishing a branded
sense of campus presence and pride, to make it clear to students, faculty, staff,
other pedestrians, and vehicular travelers when they are on UBalt's campus.
We have implemented several elements, with more planned for 2025 and 2026. New banners
with the Centennial mark now better delineate the campus boundaries, and 15 unique,
high-value sculptures are placed in key interior and exterior locations on campus.
Still to come are a series of illuminated signs and gateway monuments to enhance campus
presence and wayfinding, especially during evening hours which is a peak time for
on-campus classes.
A contract has been awarded for fabrication and installation of an iconic UBALT sign
to be placed at the southwest corner of Gordon Plaza and for branded "Banner B" signs
at the primary entrances of UBalt buildings. Skyline signage is in design development
for the rooftops of the Angelos Law Center and the Thumel Business Center. Efforts
are underway to mark the campus edges with gateway monuments at the I-83 Maryland
Avenue exit and at two locations in the median of Mt. Royal Avenue, pending City approval.
A UBalt alumnus is funding most of the placemaking initiative, which will strengthen
UBalt's brand identity as the University moves into our second century.
UBalt has made significant strides in implementing the FMP within 11 months of its approval. The planned capital projects promise to strengthen UBalt as we continue our mission of educating non-traditional, career-oriented graduate and undergraduate students to achieve nationally ranked outcomes.
These investments will serve our students and benefit UBalt, Baltimore City, and the
State of Maryland, enhancing the campus environment and reinforcing our role as both
the University of Baltimore and the University for Baltimore.
The FMP considers forward-looking enrollment patterns and educational delivery methods to anticipate future space needs and renewal opportunities that will revitalize key campus spaces and support UBalt's strategic direction. And, it takes a bold stance in supporting a central Baltimore that will continue its upward trajectory as an attractive place to live, work, shop, and enjoy one-of-a-kind cultural amenities. In this vision, The University of Baltimore thrives as a hub of activity that grows more exciting by the day.
Below, you will find both an Executive Summary for the FMP proposal and the Full Report. We invite you to see in our FMP our exciting vision for The University of Baltimore, now ready for its second century.
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