Johns Hopkins University – Stieff Building Distance Learning Center

Waldon Studio Architects planned, designed and renovated the 1st Floor and Mezzanine Level of the Stieff Silver Manufacturing Company Building to accommodate new television recording studios for global distance learning, support rooms, teaching and collaboration spaces, a reception area and other administrative spaces.

The Stieff Silver Manufacturing Company Building is a classic early-twentieth century brick industrial building with wide-plank white oak wood floors, heavy timber beams, exposed steel columns, and tall windows. Johns Hopkins University’s vision for this unique space was to create a state-of-the-art “showpiece” to welcome staff and visitors to this department.

Honoring the historic character of the building, WSA developed a design that utilized the existing materials and balanced them with modern touches. The reception area features a wood plank and frameless glass signage wall with a built-in brick planter. A new steel frame and open wood tread stair connects both levels, while allowing views through. Given all the hard nature of the existing finishes, a lot of attention was given to acoustics which were addressed through acoustic panels integrated into light fixtures and intentionally placed soft flooring. The tall existing windows provide lots of direct sunlight into the space and were enhanced with shades that diffuse the harshest light and maximize the views to the outdoors. Conference rooms and offices were fit out with glass walls to allow the natural lighting to permeate deeper into the space. Built-in brick planters with live plants were introduced to the space to provide a softer, biophilic compliment to the industrial space.

• Location

  Baltimore, MD

• Client

  Johns Hopkins Facilities & Real Estate

• Project Type

  Renovation

• Year Completed

  2021