Design studio is a collaborative teaching-and-learning environment and the heart of the architecture program. Located on the ground floor of the architecture building, it comprises assigned desk space for third- and fourth-year undergraduates and graduate students to conduct individual design work, as well as ample flexible space for group work. In studio, you’ll work side-by-side with peers, practicing faculty, and industry mentors to master the fundamentals of building design, site analysis, urban design, and sustainable building materials and methods.
The school’s heart is the Great Space, a 118-foot, two story atrium and a hub of activity. The Great Space accommodates lectures and critiques, but is flexible enough to also be used for a variety of schoolwide events: symposiums, celebrations, career fairs, parties, thesis reviews, frisbee matches and the Beaux Arts Ball. Its floors have been adorned with student art and once, the gridded streets of Manhattan.
Jump into our sandbox! From a 24/7 student workspace that fosters collaboration and friendship, to high-tech, model-making makerspaces, we’ve got what you need to dream and design big.
The Real Estate Club:
The Real Estate Club at the University of Maryland allows members to explore the wealth building opportunities of real estate through the education of market conditions, financing, investing, rehabbing, management, and developing. Members have the opportunity to hear from real estate professionals and partake in site visits.
The Student Planning Association (SPA) is for students pursuing a Master of Community Planning (M.C.P.) in the Urban Studies and Planning Program at UMD. It promotes student involvement in the planning program and profession, fostering social and intellectual interactions among students, faculty, staff and alumni.
SPA Activities:
The Historic Preservation Organization (HiPO) provides students who are working towards any historic preservation degree or interested in the field of historic preservation with opportunities to further engage the preservation community at the University of Maryland and beyond. Founded in 2004, this student-run organization offers lectures, site visits and social events that connect Maryland students to current preservation issues, job opportunities, and the great group of people that make up the Historic Preservation Program at the University of Maryland.
Alpha Rho Chi (APX)
APX is the national fraternity for architecture and the allied arts. Its brotherhood unites men and women for the purpose of fellowship and lifelong friendships and mutual interest in professional development. This is exemplified by the fraternity's motto: Fidelitas, Amor et Artesor, "Fidelity and Love of the Arts."
At Maryland, life doesn’t stop when class ends—it just changes venues. From frisbee on McKeldin Mall to lectures at The Stamp, service projects to a cappella groups, there’s something for everyone. With 1,000+ clubs, sports, and organizations, you’ll find your people here. At the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, student groups connect you with classmates, fuel your professional growth, and help you build a lasting community.
Guidance, Growth and a Community Behind You.
Through peer collaboration, faculty guidance, and alumni engagement, our mentorship opportunities give students the confidence, perspective, and professional connections to succeed in the built environment.
Life@Maryland
The University of Maryland offers a welcoming campus community in a vibrant college town, just minutes from Washington, D.C. At UMD, you’ll find infinite opportunities to engage your passions, seek new challenges and chart your future. Whether you’re grabbing coffee with classmates, taking in a basketball game, joining one of UMD’s nearly 800 student clubs and organizations, or exploring College Park’s growing downtown scene, life at UMD is full of energy, opportunity, and Terp pride.