Morgan State University in Baltimore began construction on a $337M Science Center aiming to boost research capabilities. The project, led by African American-owned firm Moody Nolan, expects to house key scientific departments and innovative research labs. Completion expected by August 2028. Funding by Gov. Wes Moore signals Maryland's commitment to HBCUs and academic excellence.
Morgan State University photo
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Morgan State President David K. Wilson stood shoulder-to-shoulder in hard hats, shovels in hand, as they celebrated not just the beginning of a construction project but the realization of a bold vision for Morgan State’s future.
In a momentous event signaling the dawn of a new era at Maryland's preeminent public urban research university, Morgan State University (MSU) officially broke ground for its new highly anticipated and innovative Science Center in Baltimore in May 2025.
With state and city dignitaries, university leaders, faculty, students, alumni and community stakeholders on hand, the ceremonial turning of soil marked the start of construction of the $337 million facility, which is poised to redefine MSU's research and educational capabilities, the school said in a news release.
The seven-story, 246,000-sq.-ft. Science Center — designed by the nation's largest African American-owned architecture firm, Moody Nolan, and project-led by Morgan alum Churchill Banks III (Class of 1997) — will become the centerpiece of scientific research and instruction on campus.
Once completed, the facility will serve as the home of the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, along with the university's Biology and Chemistry Departments. In addition, the Science Center will feature advanced research labs, information technology spaces, tutoring and collaboration centers and a botanical greenhouse — all purposefully designed to meet the needs of 21st century scholars and innovators.
The Science Center will also pursue LEED Gold certification for environmental and energy sustainability, with features including a green roof and a gray water reclamation system to reduce environmental impact.
Funded under the Moore administration, the project highlights the university's role as a rapidly expanding hub for research and academic excellence.
Construction on the new science building is scheduled to be completed by August 2028.
Leadership Voices: Unified Vision
The $337 million approved to build Morgan State's new Science Center is the largest state contribution in the school's history. The state has invested heavily in its Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) under Moore, the school noted, as funding has increased nearly 60 percent to a total investment of $1.34 billion.
The Moore administration also has invested $135 million for specific initiatives in East Baltimore, where MSU is located.
Momentum Grows at Morgan State
Located across Cold Spring Lane from the Richard Dixon Science Research Center, the new Science Center will be constructed on the site of the former Washington Service Center, constructed in 1980, and the 73-year-old Washington Service Center Annex.
The facility will be a welcome addition to Morgan State's inventory of education resources, the school noted in its news release. Due to its ever-growing student and burgeoning academic degree programs and research endeavors, the university has outgrown its current and "dated" Science Complex, which consists of Calloway Hall, Carnegie Hall, Key Hall and the Dixon Research Center.
The groundbreaking of the new Science Center is just the latest milestone in Morgan State's ambitious campus transformation, following the recent openings of the Health and Human Services Center, Legacy Hall and Thurgood Marshall Hall.
As the university continues to expand its physical and academic footprint, Morgan State said that its proposed Science Center "embodies the spirit of Morgan Momentum — pushing beyond boundaries to prepare the next generation of scientists, researchers and thought leaders. Morgan's Science Center will not simply be a building. It will be a beacon, an incubator of ideas and discovery, a catalyst for breakthroughs, and an engine for inclusive innovation."
Founded in 1867, Morgan State University is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master's degree, doctorate and certificate programs. It also is the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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