User:Carbon Canadian/Morgan State University Calvin and Tina Tyler Hall

Tyler Hall on the Morgan State University campus is a Student Services Center for all parties including students, faculty and staff along with members of the public. Designed by Teeple Architects Inc. in partnership with GWWO Architects, located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

History
Before 2020, The site where Tyler Hall would be built was originally the site of the Soper Library building. The two story building formerly existed at the southwest corner of Hillen Road and E. Cold Springs Lanethe on in the Morgan Commons. The official deconstruction of the library started in September of 2017, while the construction of Tyler Hall was underway in 2019. Morgan State University Calvin & Tina Tyler Hall Student Services Center was finished and opened for the new school year in September 2020.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic there was no official grand opening of the building, but there was a celebration held in early September of 2021.

Building
Located at the Southwest section of the Morgan Commons, the student centre stands as the “entry point” for alumni and current students. The program houses the formerly spread out student and administrative facilities, and places them under a single roof. The layout is decisive and open to the public focusing on elements of inclusion and openness. The building's layout is contained within its expansive form, distributed over five stories, clad in prefabricated stone cladded sweeping curved walls. The goal of the building is to act as the student's initial experience on campus. The interior features dramatic structural gestures meant to reach out to the students as they navigate throughout according to Teeple Architects. These gestures are very modern in the sense of simplicity with materials and soft curves.

The interior spaces within Tyler Hall embrace students into their surroundings using dramatic sweeping gestures of white and light wood panelling. The student experience begins with two entry points, one located on street level and the other embedded within the sloping topography on the first storey. The ground floor is partially embedded into the hillside creating the opportunity to work with landscaping strategies to create paths for visitors. A sizable terrace with native pollinator plants, including the black-eyed Susan, the state flower of Maryland, is located on the third level. This terrace is used for small events and gatherings and offers elevated views of the academic quad that is anchored by Holmes Hall.

The student centre has service desks and reception areas for different departments arranged along a series of open, multi-story lounges with ample room for seating, study, and cooperation. The connecting element between the three public lobbies and lounges floors is a massive staircase with gently curved landings and a continuous wood soffit. Accents of orange stained glass and curved furniture are dispersed throughout the lounge's spaces. It leads to various departments that serve students and ends with a large student services counter.

The topography of the overall campus sits behind and above the surrounding neighbourhoods on a hill with an impressive slope. To account for the sloped site the Calvin & Tina Tyler Hall has two entrances, one on the same grade as the surrounding neighbourhood, and the other on the hills identified as the first storey. Walking paths with vegetation areas were also designed to meet the Baltimore stormwater management requirements. These garden areas absorb the running water to help provide flooring in the lower neighbourhood.

To form a relationship with the existing historical buildings limestone cladding is featured on the exterior, almost expressing an industrial appearance. The limestone was chosen to follow the colour palette of the Maryland fieldstone used in the existing neighbouring structures. The dark Eramosa limestone used was strategically sourced from a quarry in Ontario, three hours north of the Teeple Architects firm. To complement the limestone, prismatic metal cladding is also incorporated along the facades. The metal has a weathered appearance, shifting colours from rich brown to orange depending on the season.

Awards

 * 2022 Natural Stone Institute – Tucker Design Awards – Winner
 * 2021 AIA Baltimore Grand Design Award
 * 2021 AIA Baltimore Design Award
 * 2021 AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Public Building of the Year
 * 2021 AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Honor Award
 * 2021 SCUP/AIA-CAE Excellence Awards – Excellence in Architecture – New Building – Honor Award
 * 2021 USGBC Maryland – Community Leader Project Award – Finalist
 * 2021 Architizer A+Awards – Institutional – Higher Education & Research Facilities – Popular Choice Winner
 * 2021 The Plan Awards – Education Shortlist – Finalist
 * 2021 Architect’s Newspaper AN Best of Design Awards – Institutional – Higher Ed – Honourable Mention
 * 2021 ASLA Maryland Honor Award (awarded to Floura Teeter)
 * 2021 ENR Mid-Atlantic Awards – Project of the Year – Finalist (awarded to Barton Malow)
 * 2021 ENR Mid-Atlantic Awards – Regional Best Project – Higher Education / Research (awarded to Barton Malow)