PROJECT  Thurgood Marshall + Legacy Hall

ARCHITECT  Hord Coplan Macht

LOCATION  Baltimore, Maryland, US​

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  8/1/2024

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Casey Smith, Scott Walters, Tom Casey, Lisa Kramer, Chris Peterson, Alex Garner, Jill Popowich Jennifer Rittler, Susan Earp, Yanitza Brongers-Marrero, Christian Joosse, Brianna Hoyle, Jill Seitz David Hatton, Chan Byun, Jason Bentley
OWNER/CLIENT  Morgan State University / MEDCO
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  Gilbane Building Company
PHOTOGRAPHER  Barry Halkin, Robert Benson, HCM/Anne Chan
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Hord Coplan Macht
CIVIL ENGINEER Site Resources, Inc.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER  Hope Furrer Associates
MECHANICAL ENGINEER  BALA
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER  WFT Engineering
CONSULTANT  Porter Khouw
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  
Thurgood Marshall Hall + Legacy Hall at Morgan State University is a dual-tower student housing project that embodies the intersecting narratives of historical justice and aspirational progress. Located at the gateway of Maryland’s largest historically Black university, the development addresses urgent housing needs while functioning as an architectural expression of cultural legacy, collective memory, and forward momentum.
The project replaces outdated residence halls with two towers totaling 390,000 square feet: the 10-story Thurgood Marshall Hall with 670 beds, and the 12-story Legacy Hall with 604 beds. These are joined by a shared student dining facility and an accessible green roof that bridges past and future — not only in form but in spatial and symbolic terms.
Thurgood Marshall Hall is conceived as a grounded, contemplative structure. Its long, horizontal massing and material articulation convey calm endurance and reference the cadence of civil rights marches. The building’s primary public spaces — including the entry and elevator lobbies — are intentionally designed as immersive storytelling environments. Here, students encounter the life and impact of Thurgood Marshall through curated timelines, imagery, and spatial sequencing that moves from personal biography to landmark legal victories. These environments are quiet but potent — designed not just to inform, but to inspire civic reflection and pride.
Legacy Hall, by contrast, is vertical and aspirational. The building reads as a beacon of upward movement, housing a student commons, active lounges, academic support spaces, and wellness-focused amenities. Its entry sequence is open, light-filled, and socially dynamic — a spatial contrast to Thurgood Marshall Hall’s introspective tone. This architectural juxtaposition is intentional, emphasizing the dual project narrative: reverence for the past, and activation toward the future.
At the center of the project is a 40,000 square foot dining facility, which serves as a connective tissue between the towers and a core of student life. With 13 diverse food stations and warm, acoustically tuned interiors, the dining hall was designed as a multifunctional commons for gathering, collaboration, and informal learning. Above it, an accessible green roof provides outdoor space for study, reflection, and sustainability programming — reinforcing the project’s biophilic and wellness goals.
Materially, the project is grounded in contrast and continuity. Brick, textured fiber cement rainscreen, metal panel, and high-performance glazing are deployed to articulate both civic presence and environmental performance. Interiors combine durable, natural materials with expressive graphic storytelling and integrated technology. The project meets LEED Gold certification, with sustainable strategies including a high-efficiency envelope, stormwater management via green roof, daylight harvesting, and low-VOC materials.
Delivered through a P3 partnership and fast-tracked to accommodate a growing student population, Thurgood Marshall Hall + Legacy Hall are more than student residences — they are civic anchors. The project creates an identity-defining threshold for the university while embodying the core values of equity, education, and community. Through clear spatial storytelling, architectural duality, and meaningful public engagement, the project honors a legacy while designing a platform for the next generation of changemakers.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)
1. Illuminated Campus Experience, © Robert Benson Photography
2. Dual Towers, Barry Halkin
3. Dynamic and Inspired Dining Experience, © Robert Benson Photography
4. Legacy Entrance, © Robert Benson Photography
5. Thurgood Marshall Entrance, © Robert Benson Photography
6. Active Student Spaces, © Robert Benson Photography
7. Dining Entrance and Legacy Elevation, Barry Halkin
8. Dual Towers, Barry Halkin