The $9-million, 46,000-square-foot building was recognized for its elegant exterior.

“The judges picked Academic Hall because of the traditional use of masonry,” said Kristin Bailey, from the architectural firm Marshall Craft Associates. “Academic Hall fit into its context and was respectful of its space without trying to look like some of the older surrounding buildings.”

Because Academic Hall was designed to fill a highly visible hilltop location, its exterior design was a key element of the building’s success, according to Bailey.

The Masonry Institute of Maryland recognizes design and construction professionals who create masonry structures of uncompromising quality and appeal. 

Academic Hall is home to the departments of Education and Psychology, Graduate and Professional Studies, and Student Academic Support Services. It completes the campus’s historic main quad, originally designed by the offices of Frederick Law Olmstead.