The design of the building began in January 2020 with the collaboration of Hopkins Architects, VMDO, and the University’s Office of the Architect. Construction was led by Gilbane Building Company. The guiding philosophy behind the project was to create a space that would promote collaboration and sustainability.
Phil Bourne, founding dean of the School of Data Science, emphasized the importance of the building reflecting the university’s culture of excellence, openness, transparency, interdisciplinarity, and community engagement. The building is now LEED Gold-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council and features sustainable design elements such as solar panels, vents and windows in individual offices, and active and passive shading systems to reduce the need for artificial lighting.
The facility also includes a wellness area, a lactation space, and all non-gendered restrooms, making it a diverse and inclusive space for all occupants. The construction of this building was made possible in part by a historic $120 million gift from Jaffray Woodriff’s private family foundation called Quantitative Foundation. Jaffray Woodriff expressed his excitement for the future of the School of Data Science and its impact on expanding field of artificial intelligence. He looks forward to seeing how data science can help navigate ethical challenges in this rapidly growing field.