UMB Tops Off New School of Social Work Building

The $120 million, six-story facility will be the first net-zero emissions building in Downtown Baltimore.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The University of Maryland, Baltimore held a topping-off ceremony on Wednesday to mark the placement of the final steel beam atop its new School of Social Work building. The $120 million, six-story facility is set to open in mid-2027 and will be the first net-zero emissions building in Downtown Baltimore and the first within the University System of Maryland.

Why it matters

The new School of Social Work building is part of UMB's broader plans to revitalize the West Lexington Corridor area around its campus, with goals of creating a more college-town feel through new student and faculty housing, a recreational complex, and additional retail spaces.

The details

The topping-off ceremony is a construction industry tradition that symbolizes the hand-off between major trades on site. University and construction officials, as well as students and employees, signed the final steel beam before it was placed atop the building's skeleton.

  • The new School of Social Work building is set to open in mid-2027.

The players

University of Maryland, Baltimore

The public research university located in downtown Baltimore, Maryland.

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What’s next

The university plans to continue its West Lexington Corridor Project to revitalize the area around the campus, including adding new housing, a recreational complex, and retail spaces.

The takeaway

The new net-zero emissions School of Social Work building is a significant milestone for UMB, showcasing the university's commitment to sustainability and its efforts to create a more vibrant, college-town atmosphere in downtown Baltimore.