Campus Connection

On April 7, the School of Pharmacy learned that the Maryland legislature approved of $62 million to fund a seven-story addition to the aging, 25-year-old Pharmacy Hall.  

The 112,565 square-foot addition, to be built on land currently comprised of a parking lot on the north side of Pharmacy Hall, will more than double the space of the school and include new lecture halls, a patient interaction laboratory, and additional clinical and translational research space. 

The funding allocation capped an intense lobbying effort by university officials to secure support from state legislators.  “Representatives from the School of Pharmacy and campus met frequently with members of the General Assembly,” said Natalie Eddington, dean of the School of Pharmacy.  

“Responses concerning the funding for the addition were very positive,” said Eddington.  However, the funding was not definitely secured until the last day of the 2008 session.

The addition will allow the school to better accommodate an increased student body and more faculty.  The school recently increased its enrollment to 160 students per incoming class;  this includes 120 students at the Baltimore campus and an additional 40 students at the satellite Shady Grove campus.  “One of the motivating factors…is to increase the size of our student body to meet the growing needs of pharmacists in our state,” said Eddington.  

While some design aspects such as lighting, signage, and space assignments remained to be determined, schematic design of the addition’s exterior and interior spaces have already been completed.  Groundbreaking is anticipated for this summer with opening of the addition scheduled for fall 2010. 

“Governor Martin O’Malley and the Maryland General Assembly have recognized the need to educate more pharmacists, carry out more cutting-edge research, and deepen our commitment to serve the community,” said UMB President David J. Ramsay of the funding approval.  “We are thankful for their leadership and their vision in helping us move forward with this desperately needed expansion.”

Article Tools