Israeli-born architect Moshe Safdie hasn't designed a project for Baltimore since he designed Coldspring Newtown in the 1970s, but he's apparently interested in working on the $107 million law school planned by the University of Baltimore.
So is the Canadian firm of Diamond + Schmitt, author of the new Shakespeare Theatre in Washington. And the Scottish-owned firm known as RMJM Hillier. And Dutch-owned (but Baltimore-based) RTKL.
They're among a Who's Who of architectural and engineering firms - including more than a few with international reputations - that sent representatives to the University of Baltimore campus last week to learn how to be considered to design the law center.
University President Robert L. Bogomolny announced last month that the law school is working with the nonprofit Abell Foundation to hold a $150,000 design competition to select an architect for the building, which is planned for the northeast corner of Charles Street and Mount Royal Avenue.
Abell is sponsoring the design competition to entice "world class" firms that might not otherwise pursue a project in Baltimore.
Last month's announcement seems to have had the desired effect of drawing out a wide range of firms that don't normally chase work in Baltimore.
In all, more than 80 people attended an hour long briefing and site tour to learn what the university wants in the way of design services. Among them were representatives from such notable out-of-town firms as the Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership of Portland, Ore.; Cooper, Robertson and Partners; Gensler, and Fox and Fowle of New York; and Kallman, McKinnell and Wood of Boston.
Maryland firms that expressed interest included Marks Thomas, Ayers Saint Gross, Ziger/Snead, Cho Benn Holback + Associates, CS&D and GWWO.
University officials have said they want a "signature" building to house the law center, for which Orioles majority owner and UB School of Law alumnus Peter G. Angelos has pledged $5 million, the largest private gift in the university's history.
It will replace the John and Frances Angelos Law Center at Mount Royal and Maryland avenues, named after Peter Angelos' parents, and will bear the same name.
The architects were told that the university will follow state procurement procedures to select three or four teams to take part in the design competition, which will last approximately three weeks. Architects weren't required to attend last week's briefing in order to bid for the commission.
