Celebrating the School of Architecture Class of 1975 50th Reunion
In 2022, the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation began celebrating 50th reunions with our first graduating classes. We have been delighted to host the classes of 1972, 1973 and 1974 in College Park. Now Class of 1975, it’s your turn!
Five Questions with John Bryant
John Bryant M.Arch ‘07 was a fish out of water when it came to designing for Florida's climate.A transplant from the Northeast and a new architect for Sweet Sparkman—Sarasota, Florida's largest architecture firm—one of Bryant‘s first big jobs was to revitalize a historic pavilion along Siesta Key Beach that could withstand Category 3 hurricanes, the hot, humid conditions of the Sunshine State and the instability of sand.
Five Questions with Jason Sartori
On any given day at the office, Jason Sartori M.C.P. ‘05 might review a development application, offer guidance for a placemaking event, evaluate the state of school infrastructure, or all of the above.A day in the life as a planning director for Montgomery County, Md.—one of the most diverse, populous counties in the country—is never boring. In his role, Sartori tackles a variety of formidable tasks relating to issues such as affordable housing, zoning and transportation—but he wouldn't have it any other way, he said.
Changing the Face of Affordable Housing: Mansur Abdul-Malik (MRED ’12)
When Mansur Abdul-Malik crunches a building’s pro forma, he doesn’t see numbers—he sees faces: the 10-year-old boy popping wheelies in Baltimore’s Hollander Ridge neighborhood; the D.C. family who needs a new stove; the dozens of residents who have his personal cellphone number.
Five Questions with Gabrielle Hapi
As a new graduate student in the University of Maryland’s (UMD) Real Estate Development Program, Gabrielle Hapi ’15, MBA & MRED ‘21 often passed by Baltimore’s glassy high-rises wondering, “How can I help people who can’t afford these rents?” She didn’t know that she’d find her answer first at UMD, then creating vibrant, affordable housing as the developme
UMD Students, Faculty and Alums Earn Acclaim at 2025 Maryland AIA Awards
A fire station designed from ashes, an homage to a Civil War turning point and a refuge for oyster recovery were just some of the University of Maryland student projects to amass accolades at this year’s AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Awards. They joined nearly a dozen alums and faculty honored for projects that exemplify sustainable and beautiful design and contribute to the public realm.
5 Questions with Cathy Morrison
To rebuild communities, Cathy Morrison ‘04 believes that designers should not only reflect the people in the communities they’re building for, but “move at the speed of trust.”
Save Our Buildings, Save Ourselves
If you ask Carl Elefante ‘80 which of New York’s most iconic skyscrapers—the 94-year-old Empire State Building or the 11-year-old Freedom Tower—is more climate-friendly, the answer might surprise you.Both have LEED-Gold certification, the energy-efficient exemplar bestowed on a building. But because of the Empire State Building’s stone façade, it has staying power, said Elefante—when the Freedom Tower’s glass façade reaches the end of its useful life, it will be torn off and thrown into a landfill.
Terps Hit “Home” Run in Forbes Best List
If you are building a home in the rolling landscape of Virginia’s Blue Ridge mountains magnificent views are as much a requirement as an extra bedroom. But architects Amy Gardner and Brittany Williams ‘05 M.Arch ‘07 decided early on in the project that scenery was only part of the equation— if sited and designed just right, they could also capture sunlight and ample mountain breezes, allowing the homeowners to power and ventilate the home, minimizing the need for AC even on sunny, hot and humid August summer days.