PROJECT  Union on Knox

ARCHITECT  WDG

LOCATION  College Park, Maryland, US​

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  7/11/2024

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  ARCHITECURE: Bob Keane, AIA, Mickey Finn, AIA, Matt Lam, Sungjin Cho, AIA, David Osorio, Deborah McPherson, AIA INTERIORS: Manuel Lauzurique-Abiega, Keith Worley, AIA, Neha Pathare, Michael Broderick
OWNER/CLIENT  Greystar/ John Beinert
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  John Moriarty & Associates, LLC / Chris Woitowicz
PHOTOGRAPHER  StudioHDP / Anice Hoachlander
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Lee and Associates, Inc. / Jeff Lee
CIVIL ENGINEER Soltesz / Ben Mosier, David Bickel
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER  SK&A Structural Engineers, PLLC / Josh Woolcock
MECHANICAL ENGINEER  John Moriarty & Associates, LLC / Chris Woitowicz
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER  John Moriarty & Associates, LLC / Chris Woitowicz
CONSULTANT  Lighting: CM Kling Associates Inc. / David Ghatan
CONSULTANT  LCP Media / Natalia Scrimgeour. © 2025 LCP Media
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  
Union on Knox, completed in July 2024, is a mixed-use student apartment community located between the University of Maryland’s South Campus and downtown College Park. The development includes 340 apartments in 359,000 square feet, 24,000 square feet of retail, and 331 parking spaces in a two-level garage. Positioned at the campus’s southeastern edge, it serves as a new entrance to the university and connects it to the city. One of the most significant design challenges the team faced was managing the dramatic 20-foot elevation drop between the university campus and the adjacent street level, which required creative architectural solutions to seamlessly connect these two distinct environments. The main lobby sits at the highest point, opening to a large stair that leads to street level. This stair acts as circulation and gathering space with stadium seating, linking campus and city visually and physically.

Originally planned in two phases, the project was combined through acquiring and redeveloping existing retail and parking. This created Sterling Place, a 40-foot-wide pedestrian corridor between Knox and Lehigh Roads. Sterling Place hosts storefronts for local businesses, including some displaced by other projects, bringing a new retail style to College Park and extending the vitality of Baltimore Avenue. Architecturally, Union on Knox features black and white fiber cement panels, dark bronze metal trim, and a darker masonry base that adds texture and warmth. The building steps down along Knox Road to street level and rises on Lehigh Road to follow the slope. This reduces bulk and creates a human-scale streetscape. Base heights vary to highlight retail frontage and pedestrian rhythm.

Sterling Place connects retail, residential, and shared spaces inside. A glass bridge highlights a coworking lounge. The grand stair links interior and exterior and marks the boundary between campus and downtown. Designed for University of Maryland students, the residences include study lounges, a Twitch room, and outdoor amenities like courtyards, cabanas, and an artificial turf lawn. Warming kitchens and grill areas support social dining. Transparent ground-floor glazing reveals the fitness center and lobby, engaging the street and community. A large package room and tech-forward design meet student needs.

Sustainability is key at Union on Knox, which earned LEED Gold certification and exceeds Route One Sector Plan goals. Features include a 31 percent glazing ratio balancing daylight and efficiency, thermal bridging clips, and a green roof managing stormwater. Infrastructure uses interstitial spaces and site topography to reduce environmental impact. The building exceeds ASHRAE 90.1 energy standards for long-term savings without losing design quality. The project preserves local businesses through relocation. Sterling Place’s walkable retail supports neighborhood life, while a transparent, active street edge welcomes students, residents, and visitors. Union on Knox transforms a difficult site into a vibrant, student-centered community blending topography, urban context, and student life to support success, engagement, and growth.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

Though simple in its architecture, it is generous in its creation of an urban commons- its presence cultivating chance encounters, solidarities, and shared rhythms that make a campus alive.

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)
1. Knox Road / ©2025, Anice Hoachlander / StudioHDP
2. View from UMD Campus Entry / ©2025, Anice Hoachlander / StudioHDP
3. Lobby Grand Stair / ©2025, Anice Hoachlander / StudioHDP
4. Exterior Grand Stair/ North Facade / ©2025, Anice Hoachlander / StudioHDP
5. Sterling Place Retail / © 2025 LCP Media / Natalia Scrimgeour
6. Co-Working Lounge / ©2025, Anice Hoachlander / StudioHDP
7. Courtyard Terrace / © 2025 LCP Media / Natalia Scrimgeour
8. Exterior Northwest Corner / ©2025, Anice Hoachlander / StudioHDP