Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management

The Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management establishes a bold new identity for Morgan State University, replacing the school’s aging 1970s facility and creating a modern, community-facing hub for business education. The 135,000-square-foot building supports nine undergraduate majors, four master’s programs, and doctoral studies, providing advanced instructional, collaboration, and research environments aligned with the school’s high academic standards and global aspirations.

The six-story structure brings together a diverse array of learning and demonstration spaces, including a Center for Innovation, computer labs, flexible classrooms, a real-time Capital Markets trading floor, seminar rooms, a demonstration kitchen, ten mock hotel rooms, an 80-seat lecture hall, and a 300-seat auditorium. A large central atrium—filled with daylight and shaped for visibility across levels—serves as a vibrant gathering space that encourages collaboration, informal study, and community engagement.

A Gateway Building Rooted in History and Campus Identity

Situated on Morgan State’s emerging West Campus, the triangular building and its adjacent pedestrian bridge mark a prominent gateway along Hillen Road. Its sweeping curved façade embraces the circular West Quad, while a carefully curated palette of stone, masonry, and glass connects the building to the university’s architectural heritage.

The site holds deep historical significance as the location of Morgan students’ 1963 protests during the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully led to the desegregation of the Northwood Theater. The building’s transparency, openness, and outward-facing design intentionally honor this legacy—reflecting the university’s continued commitment to community leadership and accessibility.

Engineering for Performance, Efficiency, and Long-Term Sustainability

In collaboration with Ayers Saint Gross and KPF, Mueller provided comprehensive mechanical engineering design for this LEED Gold facility, tailoring high-performance systems to serve a wide range of teaching, collaboration, and technology-rich environments. The building includes dedicated heating and cooling plants, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and daylight-responsive controls that work together to enhance occupant comfort and reduce energy consumption.

Sustainable design strategies—including a green roof, extensive daylighting, and architecturally significant “finned” exterior support columns angled to limit solar heat gain—help achieve an anticipated energy savings of 31%. These integrated systems support Morgan State’s sustainability goals and create a comfortable, efficient, and future-ready learning environment for students and faculty.