The “Art” of Building an Idea
To develop an idea for his final graduate school project 25 years ago, Architecture Clinical Professor Michael Abrams didn’t draw inspiration from his favorite architects: He riffed off his passion for music.
Student Project Reclaims a Sacred Space
For over 20 years, an ornate, gothic-style Roman Catholic church located in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Baltimore, Md. served as a “safe haven” for a Filipino community to gather and worship 9,000 miles from home. But what was once a lively, joyful place for potlucks, Christmas mass and community socials is now vacant, with its future uncertain.
Unearthing a Campus’ Past
Road ruts, broken pieces of pottery and metal fragments long-buried along the north side of the University of Maryland’s campus may offer new clues about the land’s history, and the enslaved people who lived and worked there, through ongoing archeological research led by the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation’s Historic Preservation Program.
Capstone Winner Makes Room for Growth in College Park
A community-nurturing, mix-used development with panoramic views of Greater College Park earned first place in the Spring 2025 John B. Colvin Capstone Competition. The Haven was one of five projects presented to a jury of industry experts that capitalized on the booming growth surrounding the University of Maryland and a burgeoning need for market-rate housing for young professionals.
A Peek Inside: The Architecture Studio
This story was originally published in Maryland Today. Written by Karen Shih '09. Photos by Stephanie S. Cordle.Power cords curl like jungle vines from the ceilings, snaking between black metal dividers and miniature construction projects. Throughout the industrial space, with its concrete floors and cinderblock walls, lay stacks of drafting paper, laser-cut walls for model buildings and 3D-printed tiny cars, all created using machines in-house.
To Succeed in Business, Think Like an Architect
Architecture Adjunct Professor Andrew Pressman believes a great team is akin to a big, unhappy dysfunctional family.You don’t have to like the other team members to produce great results,” Pressman says. “Tension between team members can be seen as constructive—as the gasoline that fuels innovation and excellent work.”
Best in Class
Written by Maggie Haslam and Brianna Rhodes
Restoring a Main Street’s “Charm”
Architecture student Christophe Tanis discovered a bold way to gauge a neighborhood’s walkability while strolling down a city street in West Baltimore: He estimated the number of inches between him and a speeding bus. “There’s no safety buffer between the sidewalk and the road, and people are driving so fast,” he said. “It's not a good place for people to walk, period.”
VR Can Boost Police Officer Empathy, UMD Study Finds
The story originally appeared in Maryland Today. Written by John Tucker. The job of police officer isn’t one that’s generally associated with touchy-feeliness, but a new University of Maryland study points to a tool that could help cops better connect with those they serve: virtual reality (VR).