Phillip J. Closius, dean of the University of Baltimore School of Law, noted the firm's focus on developing projects in close consultation with clients.
"This is a transformative time for the UB School of Law," Closius said, "and we were looking for a partner who understands the dynamic nature of our school and of legal education. The Behnisch team showed a real commitment to working with us to create a building that will meet our needs and be a unique addition to the city's architectural landscape."
Design competition adviser Roger K. Lewis, professor emeritus in the School of Architecture at the University of Maryland, College Park and an award-winning designer and architecture critic, said the choice was difficult. The decision followed an all-day review of the five firms selected this fall as finalists.
"The competition was successful in producing five diverse and imaginative concepts," Lewis said. "The quality of each presentation intensified the challenge of reaching consensus. Our deliberations were daunting."
Representatives for the teams said they responded to the university's offering because the law center represents the sort of design challenge they like to tackle. They noted that it is a sizable building with an intriguing mix of spaces, that it will occupy a highly visible site marking a gateway to the city and that it has a fairly substantial budget (more than $400 per square foot).
The existing law building, the John and Frances Angelos Law Center, was named after Angelos' parents as part of an earlier gift in 1991. The new building will retain that name upon its opening in 2012, and the current facility will be renovated to accommodate growth at the university.
