Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects helps Towson University with variety of projects

From a new roof to reconfiguring the layout of a 10-story high-rise, Towson University in Maryland leaned on Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects to assist with projects.

A vibrant community speckled with both old and new facilities can be found on the 329-acre campus of Towson University in Maryland. Just eight miles north of Baltimore City, the public university is more than a school for students to further their education — it’s a place that embraces history through modern thinking and intuitive design.

When the university was facing a variety of needs with its buildings, it turned to Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects to lead the way.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to work with a university and help them tackle some of their goals,” says Peter Schwab, Architect with Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects.

A 10-story high-rise

The Schwab Building, named after financial executive Charles Schwab, was the first on the list of priorities at Towson University. The university lacked good plans for the facility, which it purchased in downtown Towson in 2019 for $7.5 million.

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The building is a half-mile north of campus at 401 Washington Ave. The 130,000-square-foot tower was purchased with the intention to partially relieve a 300,000-square-foot shortage of space the university was facing because of a growing student population.

With a better layout of that building on its records, Towson University can now make the next steps to determine what offices may be housed in the 10-story high-rise.

ADA access

Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects also made the entrance to the Schwab Building more ADA accessible. The firm designed an ADA-compliant parking space with a ramp that led to a door with a power-operated opener. A special card-reader unlocks the door before opening to the person trying to enter.

The challenge of the project involved the interior, Schwab says. The entrance doorway was built on a ledge, so it opened to a 4-foot drop to the floor. Building a ramp long enough to be accessible to someone in a wheelchair would have been so long that it would take up too much space on the interior. Instead, Schwab says, M&D installed a power lift.

Now, someone entering the building wheels their chair onto the lift, which lowers them safely to the floor without taking up much room.

A new roof

Towson University’s College of Liberal Arts is the largest of the eight colleges on the campus. The building that houses the college is huge – connecting three buildings under one roof. The entire structure was covered with a RHEINZINK metal roof, which is a high-end titanium zinc material made in Germany.

While that type of roof could last up to 100 years without any issues, it was not installed correctly about 10 years ago, Schwab says. Without the proper sub roof, moisture can develop underneath and cause the material to decompose, eventually rusting and turning into a powder.

Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects oversaw the installation of an aluminum roof that looks nearly identical to the premium RHEINZINK roof, Schwab says. They were even able to successfully work with the roofing manufacturer, who was dealing with some supply chain issues due to COVID-19.

It’s important that a finish is applied to the pieces of aluminum at the same time, as colors can change if they are done in phases, Schwab says.

“We were able to stay on top of the roofing manufacturer to make sure all the pieces were finished at once,” he says. “It’s a dead ringer for zinc. It really looks wonderful.”

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