The University of Maryland, Baltimore is part of the dense urban fabric of the city’s west side. With most of its 6,100 students residing in graduate programs distributed among five separate urban colleges, the university lacked a true focal point for student life and public events. The objective was to create a vibrant new campus center that would serve as a catalyst for student programs, public events and a new sense of community spirit. The added challenge was to construct this facility on a tight site.
The resulting five-story facility combines 60,000 square feet of student life components with a 40,000-square-foot recreational/fitness/wellness center that also includes dining and lounge spaces, a 250-seat banquet room, student-organization offices, and conference and meeting spaces. Highlights include a comprehensive fitness center, a five-lane lap pool, a whirlpool, a wellness center and a rooftop patio. The top floor of the facility connects to a gymnasium and fitness area located on the top floor of an adjoining parking garage.
The exterior architecture is a creative blend of design based on the campus master plan and input from various neighborhood groups. A prominent tower delineates entry to the building while creatively responding to the streetscape along the busy thoroughfare it fronts.
Yawkey Sports Training Center
