Project Part of the Maryland Public Art Initiative
MSAC in partnership with the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) announces the selection of Michael Singer Studio for the new Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Education Building (BSE) at the Rockville campus. When the building opens in 2019, the University System of Maryland’s research universities, University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Maryland, College Park and University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will offer undergraduate and graduate degree opportunities in healthcare, biosciences, engineering and computational sciences.The BSE will provide state-of-the-art teaching laboratories, active learning classrooms, clinical training facilities, and innovation and product design labs for interdisciplinary student research projects.
Michael Singer Studios was selected through a national Call-to-Artists conducted by MSAC, with over 200 applications received. An artist selection committee comprised of representatives of USG, the building architects and landscape architect, and local art professionals, conducted four rounds of review narrowing the pool to three semi-finalists that were interviewed in person. Michael Singer Studio was selected for their innovative and sustainable approach to projects integrated in the landscape creatively incorporating water.
For the BSE, the proposed artwork site is highly visible both from the student gathering areas inside as well as from exterior spaces – an adjacent boardwalk traversing existing wetlands. Initial community meetings conducted with students, staff and faculty were held in late June and the studio team is currently in the concept development phase. Proposed artwork completion is fall semester 2019.
The project is part of the state’s percent-for-art program - the Maryland Public Art Initiative that integrates public art in state capital construction projects. Public art projects are underway at other University System of Maryland campuses including: University of Baltimore, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and an upcoming call-to-artists is planned for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.