Out of thousands of submissions from more than 45 countries, University of Maryland Thurgood Marshall Hall earns outstanding built project in the Institutional category of the Global Architecture & Design Awards 2023 (GADA). Spanning architecture, landscaping, urban and interior design, selected entries are carefully evaluated by an international jury panel composed of established scholars, esteemed professionals, prominent press members, creative design professionals, and experienced entrepreneurs.
“Working with the University of Maryland to create this state-of-the-art environment for public policy education and the world’s first Do Good Institute has been an incredible journey and achievement for everyone,” said Leo A Daly principal-in-charge Rauzia Ally. “We are extremely honored and proud to be recognized for the powerful democratic design of Thurgood Marshall Hall.”
As a building dedicated to democratic thought, visibility and transparency were metaphors necessary to infuse into the design. “These ideals became organizing principles from every element of the interior program and exterior expression,” shared global design principal Irena Savakova. “Activity and discourse are on display everywhere in the building and we integrated sound privacy while highlighting visual connectivity.”
The jewel piece of the design concept is the deliberative chamber, an oval-shaped learning environment created for UN-style debate. The chamber was formally identified as a signature organizing element of the program, and as such it is placed as a floating, sculptural element within the transparent glass box of the East building entry. In this way, it becomes an object of curiosity and inspiration that can gather attention from all arrival pathways and energize the Gateway Plaza of the College Park university campus.
The high-performance design of Thurgood Marshall Hall includes a targeted, customized solar strategy. Location specific encapsulated translucent fins and shading trellises coincide with the solar cycle, maximizing sunlight, framing unique views and minimizing energy use.
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