COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland (UMD) announces a significant addition to its Discovery District, the epicenter of academic, research and economic development in College Park and Riverdale Park. UMD recently acquired approximately 22.23 acres of land and a 107,274-square-foot office building, representing a $35 million investment.
“Growing our footprint in the Discovery District opens new opportunities for the University of Maryland to deepen its relationships with public and private partners that share our vision for building a strong, socially engaged and environmentally aware workforce,” said University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines. “With collaborators like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Quantum Lab at Maryland, we will continue to be leaders in key areas like quantum computing, climate science and artificial intelligence.”
The property is adjacent to The Station at Riverdale Park, minutes from the College Park Metro Station and forthcoming Purple Line, and only a mile from UMD’s main campus.
The university purchased the property from the American Center for Physics, Inc. (ACP), a consortium of three physics societies which plans to lease back a portion of the building, offering the potential for future collaborations between ACP and UMD. In addition, the ACP will continue to manage the Niels Bohr Library & Archives of the American Institute of Physics (one of the ACP member organizations), a repository and clearinghouse for information in the history of physics, astronomy, geophysics and allied fields, located inside the building.
“This partnership allows ACP to make the best use of our resources, but we also know that the University of Maryland shares our commitment to moving the physical sciences forward by fostering discovery and collaboration,” said Beth Cunningham, president of the ACP Board of Directors. “We’re excited to see what’s next for this property and building, and thrilled researchers will continue to experience the priceless collections inside the Niels Bohr Library and Archives for years to come.”
This acquisition comes on the heels of the university’s continued work on campus to create cutting-edge facilities for its prestigious programs in chemistry, engineering and public policy. No other occupants for the building have been identified.
The Discovery District is largely made up of leading research organizations, including university stakeholders, corporate partners, government researchers and entrepreneurs. The public-private partnership between the university and its private partners encompasses 150 acres dedicated to research and innovation.
The property acquisition was approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works on June 21, 2023 and the property sale closed on September 15, 2023.