Johns Hopkins University Student Center

Johns Hopkins University Student Center

Johns Hopkins University Student Center

year

2021

location

Baltimore, MD

design studio

Bjarke Ingels Group

role

Designer, Facade Detailing & Documentation

project phases

Design Development

A New Campus Meeting Point

The new Student Center at Johns Hopkins University was conceived as a porous, multidisciplinary hub—an inclusive and welcoming space designed to serve the university’s diverse student body. Open and accessible from all sides, the building encourages movement both into and through its interior, blurring the boundary between campus and community.

One of the project’s greatest challenges was the steep slope of the site, which spans nearly four stories of grade change. Rather than resisting the terrain, the design embraces it. A series of gently stepping roof planes, reminiscent of a drifting cloud, allows the building to cascade naturally with the landscape. This layered roofscape not only conceals the dramatic shift in elevation but also gives the student center a distinctive and uplifting identity.

Facade Systems

The exterior of the student center features a restrained material palette composed of just a few carefully chosen elements. Expansive glazing provides transparency and visual access, offering glimpses into the activity within. Where needed, the glass gives way to reflective metal panels that softly mirror the surroundings in a subtle, atmospheric blur.

Projecting roof planes are clad in the same metal, extending outward and continuing into the interior to blur the boundary between inside and out. As you move around the building, the façade shifts—transparent, translucent, and opaque—offering dynamic views into the warm, mass timber–structured spaces within. The interplay of porous box forms and floating rooflines gives the building a sense of lightness and energy from every angle.

Technical Documentation

The design and documentation process for the Student Center was highly detailed and collaborative, requiring careful coordination to resolve the many unique interfaces across the building. To manage this complexity, the project was broken down into digestible parts—each element clearly labeled and color-coded—making the information easier to communicate and understand across teams.

Diving into the specifics of detailing meant evaluating each interface individually—and there were a lot. With over 20 unique roof conditions alone, documenting the project demanded both precision and persistence. It wasn’t easy, but the structured approach allowed the team to navigate and resolve challenges efficiently.