Morgan is Growing: An Update on Current and Future Campus Construction

Dear Morgan Community,

Since arriving on campus more than 14 years ago, I have felt then about our University as I still do today: Morgan is destined for greater heights, and we’ve yet to reach our full potential as an institution. From the beginning of my tenure, I’ve championed the expectation that there should be a crane in operation on the campus every year, supporting a perpetual state of elevation and advancement. In other words, we should be growing until the point we can grow no longer.

Due to historic underfunding by the State of Maryland since its acquisition of Morgan in 1939, that growth has been a challenge. After becoming one of Maryland’s available public colleges (Morgan was private from 1867-1939), adequate funding and investments did not occur with any degree of regularity, leaving our institution with numerous capital needs unmet. And while our circumstances have proven to be more positive over the past decade, additional state support is needed to bring Morgan’s facilities and infrastructure in alignment with Maryland’s other non-HBCU public universities.

This is why my leadership team and I have been relentless in our advocacy of Morgan and its mission and very deliberate in our effort to secure investment from the state. During my presidency, I have had the opportunity to make our case before and gain the support of three Maryland governors representing both sides of the political aisle: Martin O’Malley, Larry Hogan, and Wes Moore. I thank these governors and the Maryland state legislature for realizing that an investment in Morgan is an investment in Maryland’s long-term competitiveness. I also believe our state leaders now understand Morgan’s critical role to the vitality, prosperity and quality of life in Baltimore—the state’s largest city. The National Treasure requires continued support if the vision of a stronger Maryland is to be realized.

With the ongoing construction and renovations happening on campus, the inconveniences we’re experiencing have not been lost on me. None of us have been immune to these necessary growing pains. Travel along the road called “progress” requires patience, understanding and grace. Please remember that our goal is to afford our students, faculty and staff with the very best facilities and learning environments, rivaling the best higher education institutions in America.

Please review the following update on the current Morgan-related construction and renovations underway:

Student Housing 

• New construction of Legacy Hall (Completed and ready for move-in next weekend),
• New off-campus construction of “The Enolia” Apartments (Anticipated completion summer 2025)
• Newly renovated Baldwin Hall (Completed and ready for move-in next week).
• Newly renovated Cummings Hall (Completed and ready for move-in next week). 
• Planned renovations of Harper Tubman House (Anticipated completion summer 2026)
• Planned construction of new O’Connell Tower (Anticipated completion 2027)
• Planned renovations of Rawlings Hall and Blount Towers (TBD)

Academic and Other Facilities

• Newly constructed Health and Human Services Center (Completed and will open next week).
• Newly renovated Hurt Gymnasium (Completed and will officially open August 19, 2024)
• Demolition of Washington Service Center (Completed summer 2024)
• New construction of Science and Research Complex (Anticipated completion 2027)
• Newly renovated Carter-Grant-Wilson Administration Building (Anticipated completion 2027)
• Planned renovations of Truth Hall, Holmes Hall, McMechen Hall, Original Jenkins Hall on the Quad, and Hill Field House (TBD)

Campus Infrastructure

• Newly renovated West Campus parking, security fencing and landscaping (Scheduled completion summer/fall 2024)
• Newly installed steam lines in the Academic Quad (Scheduled to be completed in 2024)
• Stadium Way slope stabilization (Anticipated completion 2026)
• Underground electric and IT upgrades (TBD)

Future/Proposed Construction Plans

• Construction of a new Multipurpose Academic and Events Center @ Lake Clifton
• Construction of a new Multipurpose Research and Athletics Center @ Lake Clifton
• Construction of a new Engineering Complex
• Demolition of McKeldin Center

As evidenced by the extensive list of current and planned construction I’ve shared, we are not sitting idle. Our gaze remains forever focused on the future. There is a transformation occurring at Morgan which we all are a part of. You can learn more about it and how we plan to see it manifested in our Transformation Morgan 2030: Leading the Future strategic plan. And while all of this you are seeing has been a team effort, I would be remiss if I did not extend our collective, tremendous gratitude to Kim McCalla, vice president for Facilities, Design, and Construction, and her team for their stewardship of our capital program over the last 15 years. 

In the next week or so, you will hear more from me and members of my team about the improvements we are making at Morgan in our continued efforts to enhance campus security and the overall student experience. I will also provide updates on these things and more at my annual Fall Town Hall meeting, which is currently being scheduled.  

Let’s rejoice in Morgan’s modernization and growth—this is what the Morgan Momentum means! 

Yours in leadership,

President David Wilson