The Walter P. Carter and Lois T. Murray Elementary/Middle School in the historic Wilson Park neighborhood is part of the ambitious 21st Century School Buildings Program, designed to transform student experiences, while contributing to the revitalization of urban neighborhoods. Past work with K-12 and community-based projects was essential to shaping the multi-functional property.
The original school needed to accommodate a larger student population while merging a smaller school into the facility, with each maintaining separate identities. PRIME AE was integral in planning and design, including early feasibility studies. Master planning had to overcome challenges such as topography, space limitations, storm drainage, dual purpose use, and shared resources.
As part of a larger $1.1B Baltimore school program, the project involved working with a contingent of federal, state, and city entities, including design review committees, site planning review board, regulatory agencies, and community groups. PRIME AE worked with the neighborhood association to bolster community pride in the distinctive property. The nature of the project also enabled PRIME AE to partner with qualified small businesses and minority-owned companies.
Since ribbon-cutting in January 2021, the school has received widespread acclaim from industry peers and the community. Most recently the project received the highest award for Institutional Architecture at the AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Awards.