Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Howard University Announces $785M Construction, Renovation Plan

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/31/22

Howard University in Washington, D.C., recently announced plans for a $785-million construction initiative that will involve building three new academic halls and renovating multiple existing structures around campus. The project is the largest construction real estate investment in the school’s history, according to a news release. Construction is scheduled to begin this year and be completed by 2026.

The development is part of a phased Central Campus Master Plan that was announced in 2020 in response to an increase in enrollment and philanthropic investments. The Washington Post reports that enrollment jumped by 28 percent in two years, from 9,399 students in fall 2019 to 12,065 students in fall 2021.

 $670 million will go toward the new construction of three new academic halls. The Health Sciences Complex will play home to the Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nursing and Allied Health Sciences. The Center for Arts and Communications will house the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts and the Cathy Hughes School of Communications. Finally, the STEM Center will contain STEM programs like chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, math and related lab spaces.

The three facilities will be the campus’ first new academic buildings since 1984.

“This is a watershed moment in the history of our institution,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “Because of the tremendously enhanced financial posture we have worked so hard to achieve, the state of the University has never been stronger. The leadership of our board and executive team—along with the caliber of students we have enrolled, the illustrious faculty we have assembled, the dedicated staff we have hired, and the committed alumni base we have cultivated—presents an opportunity for us to solidify Howard’s status as one of the preeminent institutions of higher education in the country.”

The initiative also includes renovations to the Myrtilla Miner Building, which will house the School of Education and the Howard University Middle School for Mathematics and Science.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Porter Family Center

    Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.

  • URI Cuts Underwater Ribbon on New Ocean Robotics Laboratory

    The University of Rhode Island recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Ocean Robotics Laboratory at its Narragansett Bay Campus, according to a news release. Two students used a remotely operated vehicle to cut an underwater ribbon in a 30-by-20-foot test tank.