Bowie State University opened the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in August of 2024 in Bowie, Md. Designed by Perkins&Will, the $166 million facility will connect students across diverse disciplines in a vibrant hub for exploration and discovery. The 192,000-sf structure will house the departments of communications, history and government, and language, literature, and cultural studies. This new campus destination will also accommodate Bowie State's Military Science (ROTC) programs.
A highly flexible auditorium with 1,500 seats can host a wide variety of gatherings and events. Chairs can be completely removed from the main floor, leaving tiered seating on all three levels of the building. Other features include two 150-seat tiered classrooms, 18 active learning venues, and studios for television and radio activities.
Whiting-Turner was the design-builder for the sustainable project, which is targeting LEED Gold certification. Illuminated by natural light, the structure leverages advanced building systems to improve indoor air quality. The choice of healthy building materials with low volatile organic contents enhances the occupant experience. Ground was broken on the development in May of 2022.
| Organization | Project Role |
|---|---|
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Perkins&Will
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Architect
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Whiting-Turner
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Design-Builder
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